Adam

American  

[ad-uhm, a-dahn] / ˈæd əm, aˈdɑ̃ /

noun

1. the name of the first man, according to the Bible: husband of Eve and progenitor of the human race.

2. Adolphe Charles 1803–56, French composer of comic opera and ballet music.

3. James, 1730–94, and his brother Robert, 1728–92, English architects and furniture designers.

4. Lambert Sigisbert 1700–59, and his brother Nicholas Sébastien 1705–78, French sculptors.

5. a first name.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the style of architecture, decoration, or furnishings associated with Robert and James Adam, characterized by free adaptation of ancient Roman forms and interiors treated with delicate ornament generally painted in light, vivid colors.

idioms

1. not know from Adam, to be unacquainted with.

   He says hello to us every morning, but we don't know him from Adam.

2. the old Adam, the natural tendency toward sin.

   He attributed his wild outburst to the old Adam in him.

Adam ¹ British  

/ ˈædəm /

noun

1. Old Testament the first man, created by God: the progenitor of the human race (Genesis 2–3)

2. to have no knowledge of or acquaintance with someone

3. the evil supposedly inherent in human nature

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Adam ² British  

noun

1. Adolphe. 1803–56, French composer, best known for his romantic ballet Giselle (1841)

2. Robert. 1728–92, Scottish architect and furniture designer. Assisted by his brother, James, 1730–94, he emulated the harmony of classical and Italian Renaissance architecture

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adjective

1. in the neoclassical style made popular by Robert Adam

Adam More Idioms  

1. see not know from Adam.

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Etymology

Origin of Adam

From the Hebrew word ādhām literally, “man”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Adam

Adam Baron, a fellow at US-based think tank New America, said the Houthi offensive since Thursday had "shattered much of what was left of Yemen's tenuous ceasefire".

From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026

“At this point, the models are basically nation-state-level hackers,” said Adam Khoja, a researcher at the The Center for AI Safety in San Francisco.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

Adria Arjona stars in Adam Wingard’s flimsy action feature about a woman facing down a group of rampaging, programmable fighters that have escaped from a mad doctor’s lab.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

He played his first-round match at the Mallorca tournament two days later, losing in straight sets to compatriot Adam Walton.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

“Did Adam do it? Is the talent show back on? Is he going to be expelled?”

From "Hopping Mad (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #4)" by Franklin W. Dixon