bump and knock share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. bump means “knock against with force or violence”. knock means “deliver a sharp blow or push”. knock is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈbʌmp/
1.v.knock against with force or violence
“My car bumped into the tree”
2.v.come upon, as if by accident; meet with
“We find this idea in Plato”
3.v.dance erotically or dance with the pelvis thrust forward
“bump and grind”
/ˈnɑk/
1.v.deliver a sharp blow or push
“He knocked the glass clear across the room”
2.v.rap with the knuckles
“knock on the door”
3.v.knock against with force or violence
“My car bumped into the tree”
| bump | knock | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbʌmp/ | /ˈnɑk/ |
| Said | buhmp | nahk |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 4 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | verb, noun |
| Senses | 8 | 11 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | knock | strike hard |
Full entry for bump · Full entry for knock · More comparisons