# trump

/ˈtɹəmp/ (US) · /tɹˈʌmp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trump
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to be better than

verb · CEFR B2

to be more important, powerful, or successful than something else.

For teachers: to surpass, outrank, or prove more decisive than a competing factor.

- In the end, safety concerns trumped the desire to finish the project quickly.
- The environmental benefits of the new policy eventually trumped the initial economic concerns raised by the local manufacturing sector.

### 2. card games

noun · CEFR B2

in a card game, a suit or card that is higher and stronger than all the others.

For teachers: a playing card of the suit chosen to rank above all others in a particular game.

- He won the final round because he still had one high trump left in his hand.
- The player strategically held back his last trump, waiting for the opponent to lead with an Ace before seizing the trick.

### 3. a hidden advantage

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

something helpful that you keep secret until you need it to win.

For teachers: a valuable resource or piece of information held in reserve to gain an advantage.

- The lawyer kept the new evidence as a trump card for the end of the trial.
- The CEO played his final trump during the negotiations, revealing a patent that the rival company desperately needed.

### 4. a fart

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

a word for gas that comes out of your bottom.

For teachers: an instance of flatulence. This sense is specific to British English and is generally considered childish or mild.

- The little boy let out a loud trump and then started laughing.
- The schoolboy's accidental trump during the quiet assembly caused a ripple of suppressed giggles among his classmates.

### 5. to fart

verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

to release gas from your bottom.

For teachers: to expel intestinal gas through the anus. Intransitive use.

- The dog trumped loudly while sleeping on the rug.
- He tried to pretend he hadn't trumped, but the sudden smell in the lift made it obvious to everyone else.

## Examples

- She played her trump card and won the debate.
- The company's secret patent proved to be the trump that finally forced their competitors to settle the lawsuit.
- In the high-stakes world of international diplomacy, access to rare minerals can serve as a trump that outweighs traditional military or economic threats during trade negotiations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.