ream
1 Americannoun
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a standard quantity of paper, consisting of 20 quires or 500 sheets (formerly 480 sheets), or 516 sheets printer's ream, or perfect ream.
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Usually reams. a large quantity.
He has written reams of poetry.
verb (used with object)
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to enlarge to desired size (a previously bored hole) by means of a reamer.
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to clear with a reamer; remove or press out by reaming.
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to extract the juice from.
to ream an orange.
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Slang.
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to scold or reprimand severely (usually followed byout ).
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to cheat; defraud.
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noun
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a number of sheets of paper, formerly 480 sheets ( short ream ), now 500 sheets ( long ream ) or 516 sheets ( printer's ream or perfect ream ). One ream is equal to 20 quires
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informal (often plural) a large quantity, esp of written matter
he wrote reams
verb
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to enlarge (a hole) by use of a reamer
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to extract (juice) from (a citrus fruit) using a reamer
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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reamsimple
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reamssimple
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have reamedperfect
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has reamedperfect
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am reamingprogressive
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are reamingprogressive
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is reamingprogressive
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have been reamingperfect progressive
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has been reamingperfect progressive
Past
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reamedsimple
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had reamedperfect
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was reamingprogressive
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were reamingprogressive
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had been reamingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ream1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English rem(e), from Middle French reime, rame, from Spanish rezma, from Arabic rizmah “bale”
Origin of ream2
First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain
Explanation
A ream is a quantity of paper sold in a bundle, once comprised of 480 sheets but now rounded up to 500. If you write reams of love letters to your beloved, I hope she appreciates them. Or at least recycles. The word ream has two distinct meanings, depending on whether you use it as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it refers to an amount of paper, its origin from the Arabic rizmah, or "bundle." As a verb, ream is a rough word that can mean "to make a hole in" or "to squeeze." When you "ream someone out" you give them a scolding.
Vocabulary lists containing ream
"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
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"Two Kinds" by Amy Tan
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Sapiens
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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.
“It was just incredible,” said captain Tim Ream, who teared up as he gathered with his teammates afterward.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026
In the USA game, a foul by Ream was corrected to simulation by Almiron.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
Veteran defender Tim Ream, 38, conceded a free-kick and was shown a yellow card for his 'challenge' on Miguel Almiron.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
Tim Ream is the only player on the American World Cup team who was alive the last time the tournament was played in the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Grant, for the sake of argument, that Miss Ream gave us poor art; but what gave her so much power?
From Women and the Alphabet A Series of Essays by Higginson, Thomas Wentworth
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.
