IM

¹ American  

[ahy-em] / ˈaɪˈɛm /

noun

plural

IMs, IM's

1. instant message.

2. instant messaging.

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verb (used without object)

IM'd, IMed, IM'ing, IMing

1. instant message.

IM ² American  

abbreviation

1. Swimming. individual medley.

2. Sports. intramural.

3. Also I.M. Isle of Man.

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I'm ³ American  

[ahym] / aɪm /

1. contraction of I am.

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im- ⁴ American  

1. variant of in- before b, m, p: imbrute; immigrate; impassion.

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im- ⁵ American  

1. variant of in- before b, m, p: imbalance; immoral; imperishable.

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im- ⁶ American  

1. variant of in- before b, m, p: imbed; immure; impose.

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-im ⁷ American  

1. a plural ending occurring in loanwords from Hebrew.

   cherubim.

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IM ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. computing instant messaging

2. Also: i.m..  intramuscular

3. chess International Master

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I'm ² British  

/ aɪm /

contraction

1. I am

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im- ³ British  

prefix

1. a variant of in- 1 in- 2

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im ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. Isle of Man

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Usage

See contraction.

Etymology

Origin of IM¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Origin of -im⁷

From Hebrew

Example Sentences

By watching how spirals move in the IM Lupi disc over time, the team could tell that they were caused by a new planet being born and not a planet growing bigger!

From Space Scoop • Oct. 24, 2025

She holds the world record in the 400 IM; she swam it in 4:24.38 at last year’s Canadian swimming finals.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

If, after Astrobotic's failure last month, IM also misses the target, does Nasa begin to wonder whether its bold decision was the right one?

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024

She won the 200 IM in 2:06.59 and added the 100 back title in 55.99 seconds to earn the Swimmer of the Meet award.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2023

I saw that Radar was online and was clicking over to talk to him when an IM from him popped up on my screen.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

Related Words

• pulse