1
: a rounded protuberance: such as
a
b
: a fleshy protuberance on the back of an animal (such as a camel, bison, or whale)
2
British
: a fit of depression or sulking
3
: a difficult, trying, or critical phase or obstacle
—often used in the phrase over the hump
humped; humping; humps
1
usually vulgar
: to copulate with
2
: to exert (oneself) vigorously
3
: to make humpbacked : hunch
Synonyms
Examples of hump in a Sentence
Noun
failing her A-levels has certainly given her the hump
a cloud-capped hump straddles the border separating the two countries
Verb
the farmers had to really hump to get the harvest in before the rains
the boat was really humping before the motor started to sputter all of a sudden
Recent Examples on the Web
Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 10 Dec. 2024
However, there’s a clear hump to get over after the bombastic opening mission.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024
The city has also installed 104 speed humps at the request of residents.
—Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
Especially for smaller firms and startups, getting past the two-year hump – when 20% of new businesses fail and even fewer do more than break even – staying profitable requires attention and intention on both growing client and employee relationships.
—Nia Bowers, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hump 
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Noun
Allen said speed humps were not placed on his street despite a Public Works traffic study showing Varble Avenue was at a greater risk for vehicle collisions caused by speeding when compared to nearby Garland Avenue, where speed humps were installed last year.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 10 Dec. 2024
However, there’s a clear hump to get over after the bombastic opening mission.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024
The city has also installed 104 speed humps at the request of residents.
—Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
Especially for smaller firms and startups, getting past the two-year hump – when 20% of new businesses fail and even fewer do more than break even – staying profitable requires attention and intention on both growing client and employee relationships.
—Nia Bowers, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hump
Dictionary Entries Near hump
Cite this Entry
“Hump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hump. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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