IM

¹ American  

[ahy-em] / ˈaɪˈɛm /

noun

plural

IMs, IM's

1. instant message.

2. instant messaging.

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verb (used without object)

IM'd, IMed, IM'ing, IMing

1. instant message.

IM ² American  

abbreviation

1. Swimming. individual medley.

2. Sports. intramural.

3. Also I.M. Isle of Man.

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I'm ³ American  

[ahym] / aɪm /

1. contraction of I am.

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im- ⁴ American  

1. variant of in- before b, m, p: imbrute; immigrate; impassion.

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im- ⁵ American  

1. variant of in- before b, m, p: imbalance; immoral; imperishable.

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im- ⁶ American  

1. variant of in- before b, m, p: imbed; immure; impose.

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-im ⁷ American  

1. a plural ending occurring in loanwords from Hebrew.

   cherubim.

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IM ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. computing instant messaging

2. Also: i.m..  intramuscular

3. chess International Master

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I'm ² British  

/ aɪm /

contraction

1. I am

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im- ³ British  

prefix

1. a variant of in- 1 in- 2

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im ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. Isle of Man

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Usage

See contraction.

Etymology

Origin of IM¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Origin of -im⁷

From Hebrew

Example Sentences

By watching how spirals move in the IM Lupi disc over time, the team could tell that they were caused by a new planet being born and not a planet growing bigger!

From Space Scoop • Oct. 24, 2025

She holds the world record in the 400 IM; she swam it in 4:24.38 at last year’s Canadian swimming finals.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

But everyone will be hoping IM nails this first effort.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024

She won the 200 IM in 2:06.59 and added the 100 back title in 55.99 seconds to earn the Swimmer of the Meet award.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2023

The silence would be much less noticeable over IM.

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon

Related Words

• pulse