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dump

B1
verbnoun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /dˈʌmp/

US

  • /ˈdəmp/

Description

To "dump" something usually means to get rid of it by dropping, throwing, or leaving it somewhere. You can dump trash, dump a load of sand from a truck, or dump water out of a bucket. It often gives the sense that something is being moved quickly and without much care.

The word is also common in everyday social language. If someone dumps a partner, they end the relationship, often suddenly or in a cold way. You can also dump information on someone, meaning you give them too much at once. As a noun, a dump can mean a place where waste is taken, or, in casual speech, a place that feels dirty, ugly, or unpleasant.

Examples

  1. 1

    Waste disposal

    We dumped the old mattress at the recycling center.

  2. 2

    Food preparation

    She dumped the pasta into a bowl and added sauce.

  3. 3

    Clutter

    Please don't dump your bag in the middle of the hallway.

  4. 4

    Garbage site

    We used to take our trash to the town dump.

    • Meaning

      the dump

      a place where garbage is taken

  5. 5

    Heavy snowfall

    The storm dumped snow on the city all night.

  6. 6

    Breakup

    She dumped him a week before the wedding.

    • Phrase

      dump someone

      end a romantic relationship with them

  7. 7

    Unwanted responsibility

    Don't dump all the work on me at the last minute.

    • Pattern

      dump X on someone

      suddenly give them an unwanted job, problem, or responsibility

  8. 8

    Emotional burden

    He called me just to dump his problems on me again.

    • Pattern

      dump your problems on someone

      talk about them in a way that feels too heavy

  9. 9

    Exposition

    The first chapter is mostly an info dump.

    • Phrase

      info dump

      a large amount of information given all at once

Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • dumpnounverb

Forms

  • dumpedpast tenseverbnoun
  • dumping-ing formverbnoun
  • dumpspluralnounverb