Abraham
Americannoun
-
the first of the great Biblical patriarchs, father of Isaac, and traditional founder of the ancient Hebrew nation: considered by Muslims an ancestor of the Arab peoples through his son Ishmael.
-
a first name: from a Hebrew word meaning “father of many.”
noun
-
Old Testament the first of the patriarchs, the father of Isaac and the founder of the Hebrew people (Genesis 11–25)
-
the place where the just repose after death (Luke 16:22)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Abraham
First recorded before 1000; from Late Latin, from Greek Abraám, from Hebrew ʾabhrāhām, traditionally translated as “father of many nations, father of multitudes,” equivalent to ʾabh “father” + hamon “multitude,” or a variant of ʾabhram “high father, exalted father,” equivalent to ʾabh “father” + ram “high, exalted”
Compare meaning
How does abraham compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The federal government and the federal army have not issued an official statement but minister Abraham Belay confirmed that clashes had occurred.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
During Eid al-Adha, observers honor the sacrifice of the prophet Abraham and prepare halal meat to share with family, friends and those in need.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
Debating in 1858 to represent Illinois in the Senate, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas continuously returned to the question of whether the declaration’s protections were exclusively meant for white people.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords would be a historic leap forward.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
A cast photo, with the players dressed in their costumes from their production of Abraham Lincoln.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
