How to Use pump fake in a Sentence

pump fake

noun
  • Got to stay down on his pump fakes.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
  • So this has to be a pump fake, right?
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 29 May 2026
  • No more pump fakes for no reason, or being too rough on jump balls.
    — Danielle Lerner, The Courier-Journal, 11 Dec. 2017
  • Time and time again, Celtics players bit on his pump fake and fouled him.
    — Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 18 May 2022
  • Sabonis bit on a pump fake by Love which allowed three free throws.
    — J. Michael, Indianapolis Star, 27 Oct. 2019
  • Some would argue the foul came on his pump fake, before the game ended.
    — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 10 Feb. 2020
  • Using ball fakes, pump fakes; guys are going to be flying right by him.
    — Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2017
  • And the pump fake and the sidestep three to turn a decent three into a great three that’s just feel.
    — Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Okeke stopped quickly with a defender on his hip, looking to put up a pump fake.
    — Roy Parry, orlandosentinel.com, 21 June 2019
  • Mayfield got him a little later with a pump fake (watch closely).
    — cleveland.com, 5 May 2018
  • Brady with one lone setback, spins, pump fakes, looking over the middle, now nobody there.
    — Hayden Bird, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Apr. 2018
  • He didn’t get caught on pump fakes, stayed low, moved well laterally and used his length to bother the shots.
    — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2024
  • Curry sank a pair of 3s, freeing himself with off-ball movement and pump fakes.
    — Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2024
  • Julius Randle with a savvy pump fake, causing the defender to fly by.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 6 Dec. 2022
  • Happ is crafty around the basket with his balletic footwork, pump fakes and shots from odd angles.
    — Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Dec. 2017
  • Sengun's pet move seemed to be a face-up pump fake, leading to a behind the back dribble, en route to the hoop.
    — Rahat Huq, Chron, 16 Aug. 2021
  • Lecque caught a pass at the top of the key, pump faked, attacked the Spurs defense and drew contact at the rim.
    — Greg Moore, azcentral, 11 July 2019
  • Boen pump faked to shake off a defender, and drilled the three and sent the game into overtime tied at 67.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 24 Dec. 2019
  • On the next play, Petitbon took the shotgun snap, scanned the field and tried to pump fake, but the ball slipped out of his hand.
    — Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 17 Sep. 2022
  • Herro rejects screens, fakes cuts, uses pump fakes, all in an effort to free himself up for the best available shot.
    — Mikai Bruce, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Nice pump fake by Jefferson for a 36-yard catch-and-throw to Trey Knox.
    — Nick Alvarez | [email protected], al, 1 Oct. 2022
  • There’s a safety sitting over the top of his route, but a pump fake or glance to Coleman probably gets rid of him.
    — cleveland.com, 20 Sep. 2017
  • Ehlinger sent just about every Wildcat running right with a pump fake, then turned and fired left to the 6-foot-6 tight end.
    — Nick Moyle, ExpressNews.com, 5 Dec. 2020
  • Prescott’s pump fake also helped freeze the pass rush for a split second, which added to the protection and gave him the time to attack downfield.
    — Nick Kehoe, Dallas News, 4 Oct. 2021
  • It was tied at 76 before Clark freed herself with that smooth pump fake and connected from 3-point range.
    — Noah Trister, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024
  • Houston's Dejon Jarreau fell for Butler's pump fake, but leaped all the way over him to avoid the foul.
    — Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2021
  • Porter gave himself an open look with a pump fake against Schroder, but his shot was off the mark as the Magic came up short in a gutsy effort.
    — Roy Parry, orlandosentinel.com, 29 Mar. 2021
  • James got JaVale McGee to bite on a pump fake near the three-point line, took one step forward and tossed the ball off the glass.
    — Aj Neuharth-Keusch, USA TODAY, 6 June 2018
  • Brissett stepped up through the pocket and got Falcons linebacker Mykal Walker in the air with a pump fake.
    — Tim Bielik, cleveland, 2 Oct. 2022
  • Nonetheless, Clinton-Dix does have a propensity to take the cheese, as he can be fooled by play-action and pump fakes.
    — John Owning, Dallas News, 20 Mar. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pump fake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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