bum 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of bumnext
as in poor
of low quality that was bum advice that you got from that website

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bum

2 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbəm How to pronounce bum (audio)
as in cheeks
the part of the body upon which someone sits I decided to get off my bum and get some exercise

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bum

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
as in hobo
an idle worthless person if you expect an allowance, you have to do some chores and stop being such a bum

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2
as in beggar
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money

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bum

4 of 4

verb

as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing spent most of the summer just bumming around the house

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bum
Noun
Within the often zany and slapstick realm of Bob’s Burgers, Tina still manages to steal the show with her singular voice, romantic fantasies, and obsessions with unicorns and boy bums. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026 Even then, and with Nix having a bum ankle to Mahomes’ bum knee, the Broncos have shown a lot more in the last year to inspire confidence than the Chiefs have. — J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
Yet with these new songs out in the world, the three musicians don’t seem particularly bummed not to have their old ones in ready circulation. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 Some were drawn first to the language and its interna ideo, only to later realize the travel benefits involved; others had learned the language specifically to bum around. — Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bum
  1. poor
  2. cheeks
  3. hobo
  4. beggar
  5. lounge
  6. cheap
  7. seat
  8. dodger
Adjective
  • Disease that has spread to those organs is associated with poorer treatment outcomes.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • They were frustrated with teacher shortages and poor conditions at schools, including overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings.
    — James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of poor
Noun
  • This year’s lingerie spectacular was no different, with Dame Pat McGrath masterminding the baby winged eyeliner and pink cheeks, while Guido Palau executed the blowouts.
    — Violet Hayward, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Author is facing the sea, his cheeks orange from the lowering sun.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheeks
Noun
  • That deal includes handbags, fashion backpacks, hobos, totes, crossbody bags, sling bags, satchels, duffel bags and boot bags, along with belts, wallets, wristlets, passport cases and key chains.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Carl Sandburg’s 1927 American Songbag featured a whole section of hobo songs presenting the bum as a beau ideal.
    — Caroline Fraser, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of hobo
Noun
  • Dhaka’s rundown streets peppered with the homeless, vendors and child beggars.
    — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Robert Pattinson’s big outburst in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ has gone viral—here’s the ‘beggars’ meme, explained.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of beggar
Verb
  • My favorite touch was the deep-red plush bathrobe, which somehow made lounging in the room feel like part of the performance.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • South Floridians of a certain vintage — those familiar with Las Olas pre-pandemic, anyway — may remember Mangos, the Floribbean locals lounge that lasted 25 years on the boulevard before closing in 2017.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lounge
Adjective
  • The best seats will be the cheapest There is a wide spread in the available prices for tickets to see U2 on their 2027 tour.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The federal government was preparing to change its rules on low-value imports, threatening her ability to purchase cheaper prescription medications for blood thinning and heart failure from Canada.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheap
Noun
  • Miller’s calculated the percentage chance that all 35 seats in play will go blue or red virtually in real time.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Jeffries will campaign with Johnny Garcia, who’s running a competitive race in one of those seats where Republicans initially expected an easier pickup (after already forcing one longtime Democratic incumbent to retire).
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of seat
Noun
  • The White House is now cracking down on these tariff dodgers.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of dodger

Phrases Containing bum

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bulwarks
bum
bum's rush
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Cite this Entry

“Bum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bum. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bum

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