umpires 1 of 2

noun

plural of umpire
as in referees
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy usually acts as umpire in the all-too-frequent squabbles between the two other roommates

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umpires

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of umpire
as in judges
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) in our family disputes regarding the use of our home entertainment system are umpired by Dad

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of umpires
Noun
Managers or pitching coaches making mound visits will sometimes signal toward umpires for a timeout. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 But the umpires thought otherwise and forced him to pull Brown. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 One source of potential officials or umpires is players who might not go beyond the high school level but want to stay in the game. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026 Cubs pitcher David Peterson was coming out of the bullpen to pitch in the eighth inning after the fight took place, and the umpires were chuckling. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 The kid who manages the umpires … the two workers at Jamba Juice. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The umpires congregated for 15 seconds, and then went back to playing ball. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 The umpires deliberated, then crew chief Chris Guccione spoke separately with Blue Jays manager John Schneider and Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
For the first time in the big leagues, umpires’ ball and strike calls can be challenged and either upheld or overturned after a quick review of the pitch data. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umpires
  1. referees
  2. judges
  3. decides
  4. determines
  5. settles
Noun
  • That said, England’s best VARs are still predominantly EPL referees, too.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The state compared Atrium to a soccer team whining about the referees.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of referees
Verb
  • MasterChef Australia judges Yeow and Sofia Levin later spoke to 10 News about welcoming Meghan to the set, describing an enthusiastic atmosphere among the contestants.
    — Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • Which means Beijing is regulating what your fifteen-year-old does after dinner, behind a closed door, with an entity that never tires of them, never judges them, and never has a bad day of its own.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of judges
Verb
  • So Issa decides to bring out the real Paul Baker by inviting over all his bros.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Petitioners can move to gather signatures only if a judge decides that the recall charges meet the legal requirements for the process.
    — Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of decides
Verb
  • Rather bizarrely, that means Nvidia is in the hands of the oil market, because the oil market determines inflation and inflation determines Warsh's thinking.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Although vaccination prevents measles, trust determines whether people accept the vaccine.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of determines
Verb
  • Adebo could see some action against three-receiver sets regardless, depending on what Harbaugh settles with at the slot corner spot.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As the fiscal reality of these mandates settles in communities across the state, the scramble of local governments to avoid cutting both core and beloved school programs like Outdoor School will become even more frantic.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of settles

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Cite this Entry

“Umpires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umpires. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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