English speakers have had gumption (the word, that is) since the early 1700s. The term's exact origins aren't known, but its earliest known uses are found in British and especially Scottish dialects (which also include the forms rumblegumption and rumgumption). In its earliest uses, gumption referred to common sense. American English speakers adopted the word and took it in a new direction, using it refer to the kind of courage or get-up-and-go that makes undertaking difficult things possible. Artists may know the word with another application: it's also used to refer to the art of preparing painters' colors.
It took a lot of gumption to speak up for yourself like that. the company needs a new leader with the gumption and know-how that comes from experience
Recent Examples on the WebHis gumption, along with the hard work of his partners, has turned an idea into the only 24-hour, 7-days-a-week sports network in the country. Chris Hays, Orlando Sentinel, 31 July 2022 Michael Kirby said his father was impressed with this girl who had the gumption to play on a team of boys.The Indianapolis Star, 22 July 2022 About how individual responsibility, hard work and gumption are enough to give every one of us an equal chance to claim our piece of the American Dream. Charisse Jones, USA TODAY, 9 May 2022 In the case of Musk and Twitter, the Tesla CEO still could crawl through a few escape hatches, prying them open with his money and gumption. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 11 July 2022 That theme might be a celebration of female gumption, resilience and humor — qualities that the title character of To Leslie embodies, against the odds and against expectations. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2022 And then there’s Andrew Wiggins, who came out of 5½ seasons in Minnesota with a reputation as a player who didn’t fight hard enough, didn’t shoot particularly well and wouldn’t have the gumption to thrive under playoff pressure. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 17 June 2022 Navigating it — surviving it — requires as much resilience and stubborn gumption as raw talent. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2022 Returning to Louisville in 2018, Gilda brought that gumption with her. Mandy Mclaren, The Courier-Journal, 8 June 2022 See More