1 B2 idiomatic informal
To deliberately murder or kill someone.
"In the film, the mobster ordered his henchmen to bump off anyone who knew too much."
separable
bump off
B2 informal separable transitive
To murder someone, especially in a deliberate and planned way (informal, often humorous or euphemistic).
In plain English
To kill someone on purpose.
What does "bump off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Used in casual conversation, crime fiction, and humorous contexts. The tone can range from genuinely sinister to darkly comic depending on context. Not typically used in formal or journalistic contexts. Often associated with gangster films and crime novels.
Words that pair with "bump off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rival witness someone contract gangster
How to conjugate "bump off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bump off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bumps off
he/she/it
Past simple
bumped off
yesterday
Past participle
bumped off
have + pp
-ing form
bumping off
continuous
Hear "bump off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bump off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.