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lump together

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To put very different things or people into one group as if they are all the same, even when they are not.

Literal meaning: 'Lump' suggests a shapeless, undifferentiated mass; 'together' reinforces the combining. The idiomatic sense of unfair grouping extends naturally from this.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To treat different people or things as belonging to the same category, often ignoring important distinctions.

"You can't just lump all teenagers together and say they're all irresponsible."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral

To combine different items, costs, or figures into a single total or category for practical purposes.

"The accountant lumped all the travel expenses together in one line item."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Often carries a negative connotation, suggesting oversimplification or unfairness. Commonly used in academic, journalistic, and everyday speech when criticizing generalizations. Can be used neutrally in administrative contexts (e.g., lumping costs together for a budget).

Commonly used with

categories costs groups people issues expenses

Forms

Base
lump together
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lumps together
he/she/it
Past simple
lumped together
yesterday
Past participle
lumped together
have + pp
-ing form
lumping together
continuous

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Synonyms

group together bunch together combine conflate throw together pool together

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