bam

[ bam ]

/ bæm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bam ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a loud thud, as that produced when two objects strike against each other with force.

verb (used without object), bammed, bam·ming.

to make or emit a bam.

Nearby words

Origin of bam

imitative

B.A.M.

Bachelor of Applied Mathematics.

Bachelor of Arts in Music.

Examples from the Web for bam

Then, in May 2016, Scotland would become independent—and suddenly, bam, those 40-odd Labour-held seats would vaporize.
An Independent Scotland Will Hurt Labour|Michael Tomasky|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the BAM screening, most shades of hair color that are chromatically possible were in evidence.
Punks, UFOs, and Heroin: How ‘Liquid Sky’ Became a Cult Movie|Daniel Genis|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“People have been feeding their kids that way for thousands for years,” she said at the BAM QA.
‘Clueless’: How the Greatest Clique of the ‘90s Transformed Into A Shakespearean Tragedy|Marlow Stern|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I lasted about five minutes and then, BAM, the coconut oil ended up in my garbage.
We Were Gwyneth’s GOOP Guinea Pigs|Erin Cunningham, Olivia Nuzzi|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When Bam walks in and it just shellacks him and takes him right off his feet?
Johnny Knoxville: My 6 Favorite ‘Jackass’ Pranks, From 'Terror Taxi' to 'Bad Grandpa'|Johnny Knoxville|October 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There is a sarvant at a house I visit at, that I suspicion is a bit of a bam, and the critter shows both his wit and sense.
The Attache|Thomas Chandler Haliburton
As a diplomatist he could scarcely show more indifference to the Alabama claim, if the claim itself were All a Bam.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 7, May 14, 1870|Various
Bam itself cannot be seen, but the hill is visible at the foot of which the town stands.
From Pole to Pole|Sven Anders Hedin
In vain did the melogious music blare out its loudest blares, it brought no bam to my sperit.
Samantha at Coney Island|Marietta Holley
Now only three miles remain, and their sight, sharpened by an outdoor life, distinguishes the gardens of Bam.
From Pole to Pole|Sven Anders Hedin

Word Origin and History for bam

bam

interjection, imitative of the sound of a hard hit, first recorded 1922 (from 1917 as the sound of an artillery shell bursting). Middle English had a verb bammen "to hit or strike" (late 14c.). A literary work from c.1450 represents the sound of repeated impact by Lus, bus! las, das!, and Middle English had lushe "a stroke, blow" (c.1400); lushen "to strike, knock, beat" (c.1300).

bam