ahem
Americaninterjection
interjection
Explanation
Use the interjection ahem when you want to get someone's attention in a low-key way. If a class is being noisy, the teacher may say, "Ahem, class. Let's turn our attention to the periodic table of the elements now." Ahem mimics the sound of a person clearing their throat, so you can use it any time you might naturally do some throat-clearing. In addition to getting attention, saying ahem can also express disapproval, embarrassment, or hesitation. If your overhear your friends talking about you, you might say, "Ahem. I'm standing right here."
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.
After I pointed out that, ahem, bolognese is meat, she directed me to Instagram dietitians for advice about protein intake.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
That brings us to our call of the day from Yardeni Research, which has just raised the bar, ahem, on gold’s outlook next year.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 23, 2025
Water services are different, because the 'switch for a better deal' advice simply doesn't, ahem, hold water.
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2025
Being of a certain age, I didn’t think much of it and chalked it up to simply growing, ahem, older.
From Salon ● Dec. 13, 2024
She concludes the list with, “And of course we thank our anonymous contributor of, ahem, supplies, for the Home Help Sanitation Initiative.”
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
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.
