ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pumping

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈpəmpɪŋ// UK //pˈʌmpɪŋ// pump·ing

v. moving liquid or gas from one place to another using a machine. It can also describe something moving with a strong, steady rhythm like your heart.

v. moving fluids or gases through a system via mechanical pressure; also used to describe rhythmic, forceful movement or sound. Often used in the present participle form to describe continuous action.


SIMPLE

The heart is pumping blood through the body.

CONTEXTUAL

The construction crew spent all morning pumping water out of the flooded basement after the storm.

COMPLEX

As the music grew louder, the speakers were pumping out heavy bass lines that could be felt in the floorboards of the old warehouse.

Synonyms
Usage

Often takes a direct object (pumping water) or a prepositional phrase (pumping into).

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