sump

noun

ˈsəmp How to pronounce sump (audio)
1
: a pit or reservoir serving as a drain or receptacle for liquids: such as
a
: cesspool
b
: a pit at the lowest point in a circulating or drainage system (such as the oil-circulating system of an internal combustion engine)
c
chiefly British : oil pan
2
British : crankcase
3
[German Sumpf, literally, marsh, from Middle High German — more at swamp]
a
: the lowest part of a mine shaft into which water drains
b
: an excavation ahead of regular work in driving a mine tunnel or sinking a mine shaft
4
: something resembling a sump : sink sense 2

Examples of sump in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sewage would then be ground up by a pump inside the sump and lifted up 8 feet or so to dump into the elevated building drain. — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026 Batteries buy breathing room; fuel generators buy runtime and the startup watts needed for motors like sump and well pumps. — Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 It was upgraded with a lightweight OHV aluminum head, dual Weber carburetors and a dry-sump oil system. — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2026 The engine also runs a dry sump system, with the oil tank mounted on top freeing up space, reducing complexity, and keeping things accessible for whoever ends up maintaining this beast. — New Atlas, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sump

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sompe swamp — more at swamp

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sump was in 1680

Phrases Containing sump

Rhymes for sump

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Browse Nearby Words

sumo
sump
sumper
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Cite this Entry

“Sump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sump. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sump

noun
ˈsəmp How to pronounce sump (audio)
: a pit or reservoir serving as a container or as a drain for liquids
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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