dump
dump — verb
1. to put something down or let it fall in a careless, hasty, or untidy way, often
to put something down or let it fall in a careless, hasty, or untidy way, often without care for order or tidiness.
Pim dumped his school bag on the floor and raced to the kitchen.
dump + object + on/onto + surface
A lorry dumped a load of gravel onto the driveway this morning.
The old sofa was dumped behind the garage and left to rot.
Ziad dumped the contents of his backpack onto the bed, searching for his keys.
The children dumped their wet clothes into the laundry basket.
文法句型
dump + object + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with prepositions of place such as on, onto, into, and behind to indicate where something is put down.
常見錯誤
2. to throw away unwanted materials such as household rubbish or industrial waste i
to throw away unwanted materials such as household rubbish or industrial waste in a spot that is not meant for that purpose, often secretly and against regulations.
Nila discovered that someone had dumped old tyres in the forest near her house.
dump + object + in/at + illegal location
Companies that dump toxic waste into rivers can be taken to court.
The city installed cameras to catch people who dump rubbish illegally.
Christopher was fined five thousand dollars for dumping construction waste in a public park.
It is against the law to dump chemical waste without a special permit.
- discard
more formal; does not necessarily imply illegality
- dispose of
neutral term; proper or improper disposal
- jettison
formal; throwing items overboard or abandoning them
文法句型
dump + object + location
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person or company; the location is often specified with prepositions such as in, at, or into. Frequently used in legal and environmental contexts.
常見錯誤
3. to sell a large quantity of goods in a foreign market at a price far below the u
to sell a large quantity of goods in a foreign market at a price far below the usual market rate, often to reduce surplus stock or to harm local producers.
The steel manufacturer was accused of dumping cheap metal in Asian markets.
dump + goods + in/on + market (trade context)
Trade agreements are designed to prevent countries from dumping subsidised grain abroad.
Local farmers struggled to compete after foreign companies dumped low-cost rice in the region.
The government imposed tariffs to stop the dumping of cheap electronics from overseas factories.
- flood the market
idiom; to fill a market with products at low prices
- undersell
sell at a lower price than competitors, not necessarily abroad
- withhold
keep goods off the market instead of selling cheaply
- price fairly
set a reasonable market price
文法句型
dump + goods + on/in + market
用法筆記
Primarily used in economics and trade policy. Related noun dumping refers to this practice. Often carries negative connotations of unfair competition.
常見錯誤
4. to copy or transfer data from a main computer system or memory to another storag
to copy or transfer data from a main computer system or memory to another storage device, such as a hard drive, USB stick, or printer, or to a file format for backup or analysis.
Wren dumped the database to an external hard drive for safekeeping.
dump + data + to + storage device
The technician dumped the error log to a text file before restarting the server.
You can dump the memory contents onto a USB stick with this command.
Tamar dumped all the images from the old phone onto a laptop before selling it.
文法句型
dump + object + to/onto + device
用法筆記
In informal computing contexts, dump can mean simply copying data, but in professional usage it often implies a bulk or raw transfer without formatting.
常見錯誤
5. to stop seeing a dating partner by telling them the relationship is over, typica
to stop seeing a dating partner by telling them the relationship is over, typically doing it without warning or gentle explanation.
Lotte dumped her boyfriend after he forgot her birthday twice in a row.
Pim still felt upset months after his girlfriend dumped him by text message.
passive: be dumped + by + person
Yuna finally dumped her partner after months of feeling taken for granted.
Getting dumped just before the holidays made the season even harder for Christopher.
- break up with
neutral; can be mutual or one-sided
- leave
broader; can apply to any relationship or situation
- finish with
British informal; similar register to dump
- date
begin or continue seeing someone romantically
- stay together
continue the relationship
文法句型
dump + person
用法筆記
Informal and somewhat harsh in tone. In more neutral or polite contexts, end the relationship or break up with is preferred.
常見錯誤
6. during a game such as rugby or American football, to give the ball to a teammate
during a game such as rugby or American football, to give the ball to a teammate standing nearby, usually with a quick short throw while under pressure from the opposing side.
Zuri dumped the ball to Maja, who sprinted toward the goal line.
The quarterback dumped a short pass to the running back to avoid being tackled.
dump + a + (short) pass + to + player
Élise was nearly tackled, so she dumped the ball to Lucía in time.
Instead of shooting, the forward dumped the ball sideways to a teammate.
文法句型
dump + object + to + person
用法筆記
Used in various team sports including rugby, American football, and Australian rules football. The common element is a short, quick pass under pressure rather than a long or strategic play.
常見錯誤
7. in the sport of ice hockey, sending the puck with a hard hit deep into the secti
in the sport of ice hockey, sending the puck with a hard hit deep into the section of the rink that the opposing team controls, often as a planned move to change the team's attacking position.
Ryo dumped the puck into the far corner of the rink.
dump + the puck + into [location]
Kwame dumped the puck deep instead of trying to cross the blue line.
dump the puck deep [adverb after object]
With two seconds left, Marco dumped the puck toward the other end of the ice.
The coach showed Élise how to dump the puck past the defence.
- shoot
more general; does not specify the strategic deep-zone intent
文法句型
dump + the puck + adverb (deep / into the zone)
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs like 'deep' or prepositional phrases indicating direction ('into the zone', 'toward the corner'). This tactic is called a 'dump-and-chase' play.
8. in the game of golf, striking the ball so that it lands in a hazard on the cours
in the game of golf, striking the ball so that it lands in a hazard on the course, such as a pond, stream, or a sand-filled bunker near the green.
Darius dumped his tee shot into the pond on the left side of the fairway.
dump + tee shot + into [hazard]
Élise dumped the ball into a bunker right next to the green.
Samir watched his partner dump another ball into the water hazard near the 14th hole.
A strong gust of wind caught Christopher's shot and dumped it into the sand trap.
文法句型
dump + the ball + into [hazard]
用法筆記
Used informally by golfers to describe an unplanned or unlucky shot into a hazard. The subject can be the golfer (agentive) or the wind (non-agentive cause).
9. in the sport of volleyball, pushing or sending the ball across the net with both
in the sport of volleyball, pushing or sending the ball across the net with both hands on the second team contact, instead of passing it to a hitter for a spike.
Mauricio surprised the defence when he dumped the ball across the net.
dump + the ball + across the net
The setter, Kasia, decided to dump the ball into an open spot on the court.
Nora practised the dump every afternoon until she could place it perfectly.
Christopher faked a set and dumped the ball softly across the net near the sideline.
文法句型
dump + the ball + across the net
用法筆記
The subject is usually the setter, who normally passes to a hitter. The dump is unexpected and aims to catch the defence off guard.
10. to strike a person or thing with great force, causing them to fall to the ground
to strike a person or thing with great force, causing them to fall to the ground or floor.
Mauricio dumped his opponent onto the wrestling mat with a powerful throw.
dump + person + onto [surface]
The storm dumped the old wooden fence flat across the garden path.
Dario dumped the stack of heavy boxes with a single hard shove.
The wrestler dumped Eitan to the ground in under five seconds.
- knock down
more common and neutral; 'dump' adds a sense of forceful, sometimes aggressive action
- floor
similar register but emphasises the result (being on the floor)
- tackle
sports-specific; implies bringing someone down by grabbing rather than striking
文法句型
dump + [person/object] + to/onto [surface]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (DROP CARELESSLY): sense 1 implies careless placement without force, while sense 10 implies deliberate or forceful knocking down.
常見錯誤
11. to move downward suddenly and steeply, especially in a way that feels fast or un
to move downward suddenly and steeply, especially in a way that feels fast or uncontrolled.
The helicopter dumped suddenly when the engine began to fail.
dump + adverb: sudden vertical drop
Stock prices dumped after the bank announced its unexpected losses.
dump: financial prices fall sharply
The old roller coaster dumped down the steep hill faster than Samir expected.
The road dumped steeply downhill for the next two miles toward the coast.
- rise
general opposite of falling
文法句型
dump + adverb (suddenly / steeply / abruptly)
用法筆記
Intransitive only. Subject is typically a vehicle, a price or market, or a terrain feature (road, slope). Not used with a direct object in this sense.
常見錯誤
dump — noun
1. a place, usually in an outdoor area, where people or businesses take their unwan
a place, usually in an outdoor area, where people or businesses take their unwanted waste to be left or processed.
The city council closed the old dump after neighbours complained about the smell.
collocation: close a dump
Eve took her broken chairs and old boxes to the local dump on Saturday.
Trucks carry waste from the factory to a dump just outside the town.
The dump was full of broken appliances, plastic bottles, and rotting food.
- landfill
a more formal term for a large site where waste is buried
- rubbish tip
British English term for a place where rubbish is piled up
- waste site
a neutral, technical term; less specific than dump
2. a dirty, messy, or poorly cared-for place where people live or spend time — for
a dirty, messy, or poorly cared-for place where people live or spend time — for example, a dilapidated house, an ugly room, or a neglected neighbourhood.
Ishaan took one look at the dirty motel, called it a dump, and drove away.
informal: calling a place 'a dump' to criticise it
The old cinema had become a dump, with torn seats and rubbish on the floor.
After the restaurant closed, the building turned into a dump full of rats and broken glass.
Emily complained that her rental apartment was a dump and asked for her money back.
- palace
used humorously to contrast a dumpy place with a luxurious one
用法筆記
Always disapproving. Commonly used to criticise hotels, houses, apartments, or neighbourhoods. Do not confuse with the literal sense (RUBBISH SITE) — this sense describes any unpleasant location, not necessarily one that holds waste.
常見錯誤
3. a site where military forces or aid groups keep reserve items such as food, weap
a site where military forces or aid groups keep reserve items such as food, weapons, or equipment stored and ready for use.
The army keeps extra food and medical supplies at a dump near the border.
military supply dump
During the war, the ammunition dump was guarded day and night by armed soldiers.
collocation: ammunition dump
Rescue workers set up a supply dump in the village for families who lost their homes.
The construction company stores its building materials in a dump behind the main office.
用法筆記
Frequently used with a preceding noun specifying the type of goods (ammunition dump, supply dump, fuel dump). Subject is often a military or logistics organisation. Less common in everyday conversation.
4. an operation in which data is copied from a computer's main memory or storage to
an operation in which data is copied from a computer's main memory or storage to another device, such as an external drive or printer, often for backup, transfer, or troubleshooting.
The programmer ran a memory dump to find the bug that kept crashing the system.
memory dump — copying memory contents for debugging
Eitan made a dump of all his important files before installing the new operating system.
A screen dump can help the support team see exactly what error message appeared.
The server creates a data dump each night so the company never loses customer records.
用法筆記
Often preceded by a noun describing the data type (memory dump, screen dump, data dump, core dump). Common in IT and software development contexts. The related verb sense (dump data) is more frequent in everyday computing.
常見錯誤
5. in volleyball, an offensive play where the setter surprises the opposition by ge
in volleyball, an offensive play where the setter surprises the opposition by gently pushing the ball across to the other side during the team's second contact, rather than setting up a teammate for a spike.
Camila surprised the defenders with a dump that landed just behind the net.
volleyball: setter scores by pushing ball over on second touch
The setter's dump caught the opposing blockers off guard and won the point.
A successful dump in volleyball requires good timing and a very soft touch.
Ayana trained for weeks to perfect her dump, landing it just past the blockers.
用法筆記
Only used in volleyball. This is a specialised term; most speakers outside the sport will not recognise it. The related verb sense (dump the ball) is slightly more common among players.
6. a crude word for the act of passing solid waste from the body.
a crude word for the act of passing solid waste from the body.
The toddler announced loudly that he needed to take a dump.
crude idiom: 'take a dump'
In polite company, you should avoid saying dump when you mean use the toilet.
Darius said the dog had done a dump right on the front doorstep.
Most people feel embarrassed if someone sees them taking a dump in a public toilet.
- bowel movement
the polite, clinical term
- poo
child-friendly; informal but not offensive
- shit
the strongest and most offensive synonym
用法筆記
Considered vulgar or coarse. Inappropriate for formal writing, professional settings, or polite conversation. Alternatives include 'bowel movement' (formal) or 'poo' (child-friendly). The phrase 'take a dump' is the most common fixed expression for this sense.