ahem

American  

[uh-hem, hem] / əˈhɛm, hɛm /

interjection

1. (an utterance similar to the sound of clearing one's throat, used to attract attention, express doubt or a mild warning, etc.)

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ahem British  

/ əˈhɛm /

interjection

1. a clearing of the throat, used to attract attention, express doubt, etc

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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

See Examples For:

ahem

But the further I traveled with the crew at the heart of “It Ends,” the more blown away I was by the deceptively, ahem, straightforward themes Ullom chips away at.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

And those members of the administration’s extended circle who are, ahem, free to trade.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

Joe Jordan, ahem, rises to the role Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

Another Swiss star, Alexis Monney, will head to the Games as Stelvio's most recent World Cup downhill winner – could he, ahem, cash in on gold ahead of his team-mates?

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026

Now he pauses outside the bathroom door, clears his throat, a stagy ahem.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• cry
• exclamation
• expletive
• insertion
• interpolation
• interposition
• shout