trump

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is not of this suit

called also trump card

b
: the suit whose cards are trumps for a particular hand
often used in plural
2
: a decisive overriding factor or final resource

called also trump card

3
: a dependable and exemplary person

trump

2 of 3

verb

trumped; trumping; trumps

transitive verb

1
: to get the better of : override
where ambition invariably trumps loyaltyMichael Kramer
2
: to play a trump on (a card or trick) when another suit was led

intransitive verb

: to play a trump when another suit was led

trump

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
a
b
chiefly Scotland : jew's harp
2
: a sound of or as if of trumpeting
the trump of doom

Examples of trump in a Sentence

Verb She trumped my ace to win the trick. Their offer for the house was trumped by a higher bid. The need for blood donors trumps all other concerns.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Yet, inland freshwater flooding and storm surge are often trumped by the wind potential in public facing communication. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024 Nashville house style trumps the quirks in a catalogue that has stretched from emo rap to folk- and synth-pop. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2024 Big potential can occasionally trump modest first-class records in the race to the top. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 But most high-end rigs have high-end coolers, and performance nearly always trumps all. Tom Warren, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for trump 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alteration of triumph entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English trompe, from Anglo-French trumpe, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German trumba, trumpa trumpet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of trump was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near trump

Cite this Entry

“Trump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trump. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

trump

1 of 2 noun
1
: a card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is of a different suit
also : the suit whose cards are trumps for a particular hand
often used in plural
2

trump

2 of 2 verb
1
: to take with a trump
trump another player's card
2
: to play a trump
3
: to get the better of : outdo
trumped her competitors

Biographical Definition

Trump

biographical name

Donald J(ohn) 1946–     American businessman and politician; 45th president of the U.S. (2017–21)
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