Abraham

American  

[ey-bruh-ham, -huhm] / ˈeɪ brəˌhæm, -həm /

noun

1. the first of the great Biblical patriarchs, father of Isaac, and traditional founder of the ancient Hebrew nation: considered by Muslims an ancestor of the Arab peoples through his son Ishmael.

2. a first name: from a Hebrew word meaning “father of many.”

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Abraham British  

/ ˈeɪbrəˌhæm, -həm /

noun

1. Old Testament the first of the patriarchs, the father of Isaac and the founder of the Hebrew people (Genesis 11–25)

2. the place where the just repose after death (Luke 16:22)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Abrahamic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Abraham

First recorded before 1000; from Late Latin, from Greek Abraám, from Hebrew ʾabhrāhām, traditionally translated as “father of many nations, father of multitudes,” equivalent to ʾabh “father” + hamon “multitude,” or a variant of ʾabhram “high father, exalted father,” equivalent to ʾabh “father” + ram “high, exalted”

Compare meaning

How does abraham compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Abram vs. Abraham

Example Sentences

"The Saudis are not going to join the Abraham Accords. The Saudi-Emirati rivalry prevents that," he said.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Trump in November 2025 that the kingdom was open to joining the Abraham Accords, as long as there was "a clear path" toward a two-state solution.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

In her resignation letter, Gabbard said her husband, Abraham, "faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months."

From BBC • May 22, 2026

One looks, however, for more sustained attention to the figure who ultimately anchored these shifting arguments in a new constitutional reality: Abraham Lincoln.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

At the Petersen house, Abraham Lincoln would soon have more doctors than he could ever want, but little use for any of them.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson