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

On Thursday, Disney promoted former Google and YouTube executive Adam Smith to chairman of its streaming business, putting another Silicon Valley veteran in a senior position.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Adam Arkin, who plays one of several dubious attorneys circling the hostage-taking, directs half the series and uses, playfully enough, techniques from the period he’s portraying—split screens, for instance, sometimes triple and quadruple.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

"Adam has been with the club for so long," Daniels said.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

"We will remember his extraordinary creativity, his warmth, his curiosity and the way he saw beauty and possibility everywhere," his son Adam Max said in a statement to ABC News.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

Adam started waving his hands and trying to cut her off.

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