bump

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to remove someone from a flight or a seat because it is overbooked.

v. to displace a passenger or participant from a scheduled service, usually due to overbooking or seniority protocols.

“The airline bumped us to a later flight because the plane was full.”

“Several passengers were bumped from the overbooked flight, though the airline offered significant travel vouchers as compensation.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to move something to a higher level or a later time.

v. to increase a quantity or shift a scheduled event to a different position.

“They decided to bump the meeting up to 9:00 AM.”

“The marketing team managed to bump the sales figures by ten percent after the social media campaign went viral.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing Informal

v. to post a comment on a website just to move the topic to the top of the list.

v. to post a brief response in an online thread to ensure it remains visible at the top of the forum index.

“I'll bump this thread so more people can see your question.”

“Users are discouraged from bumping old threads unless they have significant new information to contribute to the discussion.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a small raised part on a flat surface.

n. a protuberance or unevenness on an otherwise level surface.

“The car jolted when it went over a bump in the road.”

“The old wooden floor was full of small bumps and imperfections that made it difficult to slide the furniture into place.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine

n. a small, hard area on your skin, often from a minor injury.

n. a localized swelling on the body, typically resulting from a minor blow or an insect bite.

“He got a big bump on his head after hitting the shelf.”

“The child developed a small red bump on her arm, which the doctor identified as a harmless reaction to a mosquito bite.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. the rounded stomach of a pregnant woman.

n. the visible protrusion of the abdomen during pregnancy.

“She wore a loose dress to hide her growing baby bump.”

“The actress proudly displayed her pregnancy bump on the red carpet, ending months of media speculation.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a small problem that slows you down but does not stop you.

n. a minor setback or obstacle that temporarily hinders progress.

“We hit a few bumps in the project, but we finished on time.”

“Despite a few initial bumps in the merger process, both companies are now operating as a single, cohesive unit.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang · Vulgar

n. a small amount of a drug that someone breathes in through their nose.

n. a small quantity of a powdered illicit substance intended for insufflation.

“The police found evidence that people were taking bumps in the bathroom.”

“The witness claimed to have seen the defendant sharing a bump of cocaine in the back of the nightclub.”