1 A2 neutral
To accidentally collide with someone or something.
"She wasn't looking where she was going and bumped into a lamppost."
inseparable
bump into
A2 neutral inseparable transitive
To collide with someone or something physically, or to meet someone unexpectedly.
In plain English
To accidentally hit someone or something, or to meet someone you know by surprise.
What does "bump into" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 idiomatic neutral
To meet someone you know by chance, without planning to.
"I bumped into my old university professor at the supermarket yesterday."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To physically bump (collide) into a person or object.
Actually means
To accidentally hit someone or something, or to meet someone you know by surprise.
Usage tip
One of the most commonly used phrasal verbs for unexpected meetings. The physical sense (collision) is transparent; the meeting sense is idiomatic. Both senses are common in everyday conversation.
Words that pair with "bump into"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
old friend colleague table wall someone ex
How to conjugate "bump into"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bump into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bumps into
he/she/it
Past simple
bumped into
yesterday
Past participle
bumped into
have + pp
-ing form
bumping into
continuous
Hear "bump into" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bump into" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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