dam
noun
a barrier to obstruct the flow of water, especially one of earth, masonry, etc., built across a stream or river.
dammed
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past participleof dam.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof dam.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
damnouna barrier to obstruct the flow of water, especially one of earth, masonry, etc., built across a stream or river.
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.
These lakes are prone to failing because they are precariously dammed by walls made of frozen earth, rocks and ice created by the movement of a glacier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026
Some Alaskans are evacuating their homes as meltwater escapes a basin dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier - raising fears of record-breaking flooding in the US state's capital city.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2025
Stained glass windows on the west side of the church, in the direct path of the storm, were shattered, allowing rain inside in addition to dammed stormwater forced into the building, Glenn said.
From Seattle Times ● May 21, 2024
Meadows along those dammed riverscapes have already acted as wildlife safety zones during several fires that burned through the reservation over the past few years, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2024
The Portuguese dammed up the river and flooded the whole valley.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
