Meaning & use
plump
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Pleasantly full and rounded in shape, whether describing a person's body, an animal, or a soft object such as fruit or a cushion.
Grammar: Can sit before a noun or after a linking verb: a plump baby, the baby looks plump.
Patterns
- plump and something
The baby had plump cheeks and a dimple in each one.
She picked the plumpest tomatoes from the stall.
A plump hen strutted across the yard, followed by her chicks.
verbintransitiveBritishinformal
To pick one particular choice from several, often quickly and without long deliberation.
Grammar: Always followed by for: she plumped for the cheaper hotel.
Patterns
- plump for something
After looking at six sofas, we plumped for the grey one.
Most of the committee plumped for the earlier date.
I could not decide on a dessert, so I plumped for the cheesecake.
verbtransitive
To shake or pat something soft, such as a pillow, so that it becomes fuller and rounder again.
Grammar: Takes an object and is usually followed by up: plump up the pillows.
Patterns
- plump something up
The hotel maid plumped up the pillows before leaving.
He plumped the cushions and straightened the throw on the sofa.
Before guests arrive, I always plump up the sofa cushions.
Word forms
| comparative | plumper |
|---|---|
| superlative | plumpest |
| third person singular | plumps |
| past tense | plumped |
| -ing form | plumping |
Common combinations
- plump cheeks
- The toddler's plump cheeks made everyone smile.
- plump for
- They plumped for a small wedding at home.
- plump up a pillow
- She plumped up a pillow and tucked it behind his back.
- plump grapes
- The plump grapes were almost bursting with juice.
- nicely plump
- The turkey was nicely plump after hours of roasting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- chubby
- Chubby is mostly used for children and sounds affectionate, while plump can describe adults, fruit and objects too.
- stout
- Stout suggests a solid, heavy build, usually of an older person, rather than the soft roundness of plump.
- rotund
- Rotund is more formal and often humorous, stressing a very round body shape.
- chunky
- Chunky stresses thick, solid bulk and is often used for objects or clothes, not just bodies.
Opposites
Word family
- plumpness noun
- the quality of being full and rounded
- plumply adverb
- in a full, rounded way
- plumper noun
- something that fills out, such as a pad used to puff the cheeks
- plump up verb
- to make something soft fuller
Commonly confused: plump or plum?
plump vs plum
A plum is a fruit; plump is an adjective for something full and round. Only plump has the final p.
Practice
After looking at several holiday offers, the family finally ___ the cheapest one.
Choose one answer.
The verb meaning to choose firmly takes the preposition for. The other prepositions are not used with this sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “plump”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.