plump

¹ American  

[pluhmp] / plʌmp /

adjective

plumper, plumpest

1. well filled out or rounded in form; somewhat fleshy or fat.

   Synonyms:

   rotund, portly

   Antonyms:

   thin

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verb (used without object)

1. to become plump (often followed by up orout ).

   Synonyms:

   fatten

verb (used with object)

1. to make plump (often followed by up orout ).

   to plump up the sofa pillows.

   Synonyms:

   fatten

plump ² American  

[pluhmp] / plʌmp /

verb (used without object)

1. to drop or fall heavily or suddenly; come down abruptly or with direct impact.

2. Chiefly British. to vote exclusively for one candidate in an election, instead of distributing or splitting one's votes among a number.

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verb (used with object)

1. to drop or throw heavily or suddenly (often followed bydown ).

   He plumped himself down and fell asleep.

2. to utter or say bluntly (often followed byout ).

   She plumps out the truth at the oddest times.

3. to praise or extol.

   road signs plumping the delights of a new candy bar.

noun

1. a heavy or sudden fall.

2. the sound resulting from such a fall.

adverb

1. with a heavy or sudden fall or drop.

2. directly or bluntly, as in speaking.

3. in a vertical direction; straight down.

4. with sudden encounter.

5. with direct impact.

adjective

1. direct; downright; blunt.

   Days after being accused, they met the charge with a plump denial.

verb phrase

1. plump for to support enthusiastically; be wholeheartedly in favor of.

   to plump for a team.

plump ³ American  

[pluhmp] / plʌmp /

noun

Chiefly British Dialect.

1. a group or cluster.

2. a flock.

   a plump of ducks.

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plump ¹ British  

/ plʌmp /

verb

1. to drop or fall suddenly and heavily

   to plump down on the sofa

2. to give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number

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noun

1. a heavy abrupt fall or the sound of this

adverb

1. suddenly or heavily

   he ran plump into the old lady

2. straight down; directly

   the helicopter landed plump in the middle of the field

adjective

1. in a blunt, direct, or decisive manner

plump ² British  

/ plʌmp /

adjective

1. well filled out or rounded; fleshy or chubby

   a plump turkey

2. bulging, as with contents; full

   a plump wallet

3. (of amounts of money) generous; ample

   a plump cheque

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verb

1. to make or become plump

   to plump up a pillow

plump ³ British  

/ plʌmp /

noun

1. archaic a group of people, animals, or things; troop; cluster

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Related Words

See stout.

Other Word Forms

• plumply adverb
• plumpness noun

Etymology

Origin of plump¹

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier plompe “dull, rude,” from Middle Dutch plomp “blunt, squat”; cognate with Middle Low German plump “uneducated, clumsy”

Origin of plump²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English verb plumpen “to plunge into water, dive,” cognate with Dutch plompen; probably imitative

Origin of plump³

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English plump; origin unknown

Example Sentences

The shake-up might have cheered investors, except that the stock’s plump dividend yield and 70-year history of payout increases will get a rethink at the time of the split.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

For those who think of late-career Elvis Presley as only a plump has-been, a gaudy Las Vegas crooner slinging schlock in the 1970s, Baz Luhrmann’s new movie is a bracing corrective.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

They got a little candy star and a dollop of filling, plump and honest like their German ancestor.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

Then there's all the staff employed by the family, who do everything from plump the pillows to fold the former minister's underwear.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2024

Grandpa Izzy says that Margaret is zaftig, which is Yiddish for pleasingly plump.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

Related Words

• chunky
• fleshy
• pudgy
• well-fed