dump

1 of 2

verb

ˈdəmp 

dumped; dumping; dumps

transitive verb

1

a

: to let (something) fall in or as if in a heap or mass

He dumped his clothes on the bed.

She dumped the contents of her purse on the table.

also : to empty (a bag, box, etc.) so that its contents fall in or as if in a heap or mass

She dumped her suitcase on the bed.

b

: to get rid of (something or someone) in an abrupt and often casual or careless way

I dumped the old coffee down the drain.

The week before, someone dumped an old lounge chair in their yard.

—Brad Schrade

The problem got dumped into his lap. [=someone shifted responsibility for solving the problem to him]

… sometimes … we'll dump the kids with my mother and go out …

—John Sayles

President Ford had included him on the 1976 ticket, dumping the incumbent vice president, Nelson Rockefeller.

—Jay Nordlinger

often, informal : to end a romantic relationship with (someone)

My boyfriend dumped me. = I got dumped (by my boyfriend).

c

: jettison

an airplane dumping gasoline

2

slang : to knock down : beat

the man rushed out and dumped him

—John Corry

3

: to sell in quantity at a very low price

specifically : to sell abroad at less than the market price at home

4

: to copy (data in a computer's internal storage) to an external storage or output device

5

a

: to hit or throw short and softly

dump a pass to a running back

dump a bunt down the line

b

: to hit (a puck) deep into the opponent's zone in ice hockey

intransitive verb

1

: to fall abruptly : plunge

2

: to dump refuse

dump

2 of 2

noun

plural dumps

1

a

: an accumulation of refuse and discarded materials

b

: a place where such materials are dumped

2

a

: a quantity of reserve materials accumulated at one place

b

: a place where such materials are stored

ammunition dump

3

: a disorderly, slovenly, or objectionable place

4

: the act of copying data from a computer's internal storage to an external storage or output device

The output is a screen dump [=a transfer of the data displayed on a computer screen] to a dot matrix printer.

—Maxine D. Brown

5

often vulgar : an act of defecation

—usually used with take

Phrases

dump on

: to treat disrespectfully

especially : belittle, bad-mouth

Synonyms

Verb

• blow off
• break off (with)
• ditch
• jilt
• kiss off
• leave

Noun

• landfill
• sanitary landfill
• tip [chiefly British]

Examples of dump in a Sentence

Verb

You can dump the coats on the bed.

I dumped the coffee down the drain.

The murderer dumped the body in the river.

Noun

We bring our trash to the town dump on Saturdays.

all of the used packaging eventually ends up in the dump

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

On Thursday, two activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were arrested while attempting to dump a truckload of manure outside the Manhattan offices of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). —Gabe Whisnant, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025

Milwaukee could not even bid for Butler without dumping salary to get under the second apron. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025

Noun

Just four years later, Howard found himself being traded away in a salary dump. —Tim Bontemps, chicagotribune.com, 21 June 2017

New York City is gradually transforming its largest trash dump, Fresh Kills on Staten Island, into a vast expanse of parkland and restored natural areas. —Andres Viglucci, miamiherald, 15 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps from Middle Dutch dompen to immerse, topple; akin to Old Norse dumpa to thump, fall suddenly

First Known Use

Verb

1784, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing dump

• brain dump
• drop/dump (something) in/into/on someone's lap
• dump truck
• oppo dump
• rubbish tip/dump
• screen dump
• take a dump
• toxic (waste) dump

Kids Definition

dump

1 of 2 verb

ˈdəmp 

1

: to let fall in a heap or mass

dump the coats on the bed

2

: to get rid of quickly or without concern

dumped us at the party and went home

got dumped by his girlfriend

3

: to dump trash or garbage

no dumping allowed

4

: to sell in quantity at a very low price

5

: to send a copy of (data in a computer's internal storage) to an external storage device (as a flash drive) or to an output device (as a printer)

dumper noun

dump

2 of 2 noun

1

: a place where discarded materials (as trash) are dumped

2

: a place where reserve military supplies are stored

an ammunition dump

3

: a disorderly or undesirable place

4

: the dumping of data stored in a computer

Legal Definition

dump

transitive verb

: to sell in quantity at a very low price

specifically : to sell abroad at less than the market price at home