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.
And any questions — ahem, mine — about how the barely-battled-tested boogie-down Bruins respond to a significant stress test were answered.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 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
The picture of Russia emerging triumphant and legitimized from such a deal is, ahem, at variance with reality.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025
Good liars also tend to be intelligent, Wiseman says, citing salespeople, politicians and - ahem - performers among those who will be "pretty high self-monitors".
From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025
Now he pauses outside the bathroom door, clears his throat, a stagy ahem.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
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.
