Word
pumped
US/ˈpəmpt/
UK/pˈʌmpt/
Definitions
01excited
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal · Slang
adj. feeling very excited and full of energy for something that is about to happen.
adj. experiencing a state of high enthusiasm, adrenaline, or anticipation.
“The whole team is really pumped for the championship game tonight.”
“The marketing department was visibly pumped after the initial sales figures suggested the campaign would exceed its quarterly targets.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'about'.
Teaching tip
This is very common in spoken English but should be avoided in formal academic or business writing.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02muscular
C1 · Advanced Sports Informal · Slang
adj. when your muscles look larger and tighter right after you have exercised.
adj. referring to muscles in a temporary state of engorgement and increased definition following strenuous physical exertion.
“He looked really pumped after spending an hour lifting weights at the gym.”
“Bodybuilders often aim to feel pumped before stepping onto the stage to ensure maximum muscular visibility under the spotlights.”
Usage
Commonly used in fitness and bodybuilding contexts.
03exhausted
C2 · Proficiency Informal · Dialect
adj. feeling completely tired or worn out, especially after a long period of physical work.
adj. physically exhausted or fatigued to the point of being unable to continue an activity.
“After hiking up the mountain for six hours, I was totally pumped.”
“By the final set of the match, the player looked completely pumped, struggling to maintain his grip on the racket.”
Teaching tip
This sense is less common than the 'excited' sense and is often specific to certain sports like rock climbing or rowing.
Real-World Examples
“In July, water heated by the servers is pumped through a pipe deep underground, where it warms the rock around the pipe.” “He shared that air is being pumped in; if the weather allows, the rescue team will work through the night to make a hole large enough to fit a person.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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