tramp

1 of 3

verb

ˈtramp 

intransitive sense 1 & transitive sense 1 are also

ˈträmp  ˈtrȯmp 

tramped; tramping; tramps

intransitive verb

1

: to walk, tread, or step especially heavily

tramped loudly on the stairs

2

a

: to travel about on foot : hike

b

: to journey as a tramp

transitive verb

1

: to tread on forcibly and repeatedly

2

: to travel or wander through or over on foot

have tramped all the woods on their property

tramper noun

tramp

2 of 3

noun

ˈtramp 

senses 3 & 4 are also

ˈträmp  ˈtrȯmp 

plural tramps

1

a

: vagrant sense 1a

b

: a person who travels on foot

2

a

disparaging : a woman who has multiple sexual partners : a woman who is promiscuous

b

disparaging : a woman who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay : a woman who is a sex worker

3

: a walking trip : hike

4

: the succession of sounds made by the beating of feet on a surface (such as a road, pavement, or floor)

5

: an iron plate to protect the sole of a shoe

6

: a ship not making regular trips but taking cargo when and where it offers and to any port

called also tramp steamer

trampy

ˈtram-pē 

adjective

tramp

3 of 3

adjective

ˈtramp 

: having no fixed abode, connection, or destination

a tramp dog

Synonyms

Verb

• barge
• clump
• flog [British]
• flounder
• galumph
• lumber
• lump
• plod
• pound
• scuff
• scuffle
• shamble
• shuffle
• slog
• slough
• stamp
• stomp
• stumble
• stump
• tromp
• trudge

Noun

• bindle stiff
• bum
• bummer
• hobo
• sundowner [Australian]
• swaggie [chiefly Australian]
• swagman [chiefly Australian]
• vagabond
• vagrant

Examples of tramp in a Sentence

Verb

We spent the day tramping through the woods.

He tramped the streets looking for his dog.

Noun

a tramp through the woods

the police encouraged the tramps who were sleeping in the park to spend the bitterly cold night in the homeless shelter

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The three of us tramped through stands of alder and shafts of sunlight. —Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

At MacDowell, the group tramped along a forested path to Wilder’s stone cabin. —Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024

Noun

Daniels’ first foray into the horror genre shot to No. 1 on Netflix after dropping Aug. 30, which may have a little bit — or a whole lot — to do with Close, who clearly had the time of her life playing a tramp named Alberta. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2024

On March 7, 1913, rescuers were desperately searching the same waters for survivors of the Alum Cine, a British tramp steamer, that exploded while being loaded with 350 tons of dynamite (nine boxcars’ worth) that was bound to Panama for construction of the canal that was underway. —Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2024

Adjective

Probably not another tramp stamp but who knows. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Middle Low German trampen to stamp

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1873, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tramp

• tramp art
• tramp stamp

Kids Definition

tramp

1 of 2 verb

ˈtramp 

 senses 1 & 2 are also  ˈträmp,

ˈtrȯmp

1

: to walk heavily

2

: to tread on forcibly and repeatedly

3

: to travel or wander through on foot

tramp the streets

tramper noun

tramp

2 of 2 noun

ˈtramp 

 sense 3 is also  ˈträmp,

ˈtrȯmp

1

: a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living

2

: a walking trip : hike

3

: the sound made by many marching feet

4

: a ship not making regular trips but taking cargo to any port

called also tramp steamer