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• dam
  dam

  noun

  a barrier to obstruct the flow of water, especially one of earth, masonry, etc., built across a stream or river.
• Dam
  Dam

  noun

  (Carl Peter) Henrik 1895–1976, Danish biochemist: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1943.

dam

¹ American  

[dam] / dæm /

noun

1. a barrier to obstruct the flow of water, especially one of earth, masonry, etc., built across a stream or river.

2. a body of water confined by a dam.

3. any barrier resembling a dam.

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verb (used with object)

dammed, damming

1. to furnish with a dam; obstruct or confine with a dam.

2. to stop up; block up.

   Synonyms:

   choke, check, clog, impede

dam ² American  

[dam] / dæm /

noun

1. a female parent (used especially of four-footed domestic animals).

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dam ³ American  

abbreviation

1. dekameter; dekameters.

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Dam ⁴ American  

[dam, dahm] / dæm, dɑm /

noun

1. (Carl Peter) Henrik 1895–1976, Danish biochemist: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1943.

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dam ¹ British  

/ dæm /

noun

1. a barrier of concrete, earth, etc, built across a river to create a body of water for a hydroelectric power station, domestic water supply, etc

2. a reservoir of water created by such a barrier

3. something that resembles or functions as a dam

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verb

1. to obstruct or restrict by or as if by a dam

Dam ² British  

/ dam /

noun

1. ( Carl Peter ) Henrik (ˈhɛnrəɡ). 1895–1976, Danish biochemist who discovered vitamin K (1934): Nobel prize for physiology or medicine 1943

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dam ³ British  

/ dæm /

noun

1. the female parent of an animal, esp of domestic livestock

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dam ⁴ British  

/ dæm /

interjection

1. (often used in combination) a variant spelling of damn damn damn damn

   damfool

   dammit

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dam ⁵ British  

symbol

1. decametre(s)

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dam Idioms  

1. see water over the dam.

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Etymology

Origin of dam¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German, dam; akin to Old English for-demman to stop up, block

Origin of dam²

1250–1300; Middle English; variant of dame

Explanation

A barrier built to block the flow of water is called a dam. If you walk along a stream, you can see where beavers have built a dam out of mud and logs. As a verb, dam means to obstruct or blockade as with a dam. If the kids you're babysitting dam up the bathtub drain when you're not paying attention, the water might overflow and cause a waterfall into the living room downstairs. But water isn't the only thing that can be dammed. You shouldn't dam up your emotions — go ahead and scream if you need to.

Example Sentences

Ludmilla's own home was destroyed, she says, when the Kakhovka Dam further up the Dnipro river was blown up under Russian occupation in June 2023, causing catastrophic flooding.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials captured a bear Monday at Hansen Dam a day after it caused a stir among residents and triggered a police response.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

Glyndwr Jones, a shepherd who lives at Claerwen Dam, described the fire as "quite frightening".

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Around the same time, the committee also met to review an exemption application related to water management at the Grayrocks Dam in Wyoming and its effects on endangered whooping cranes downstream in Nebraska.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

Then I thought about Rachel Elizabeth Dare, and the special ability she’d shown last winter at Hoover Dam.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• bank
• barrier
• dike
• ditch
• gate
• levee