thud

Everyday

1. A thud is a dull, heavy sound made when something heavy falls or hits something soft: the bag hit the floor with a thud. tree →
2. To thud is to fall or hit with such a sound, or to beat heavily: my heart was thudding. tree →

In the lessons

Stories and poetry: thud is an onomatopoeia that shows weight and impact; «my heart thudded» shows fear or excitement. Everyday life: a book thuds onto the floor; footsteps thud upstairs. Compare sounds: a thud is dull and low, a clang is metal, a crash is loud and breaking.

Examples

• The heavy book fell with a thud. tree →
• We heard a thud from upstairs. tree →
• My heart was thudding before the race. tree →
• The apple thudded onto the grass. tree →
• His boots thudded down the stairs. tree →
• The ball hit the door with a loud thud. tree →
• Still no sound, except a little thud from Tootles as he dropped on his knees. tree →

Note

Verb doubles the d: thudded, thudding. Similar: thump, bump. A thud is lower and duller than a bang.