jam

[ jam ]

/ dʒæm /

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verb (used with object), jammed, jam·ming.

to press, squeeze, or wedge tightly between bodies or surfaces, so that motion or extrication is made difficult or impossible: The ship was jammed between two rocks.

to bruise or crush by squeezing: She jammed her hand in the door.

to fill too tightly; cram: He jammed the suitcase with clothing.

to press, push, or thrust violently, as into a confined space or against some object: She jammed her foot on the brake.

to fill or block up by crowding; pack or obstruct: Crowds jammed the doors.

to put or place in position with a violent gesture (often followed by on): He jammed his hat on and stalked out of the room.

to make (something) unworkable by causing parts to become stuck, blocked, caught, displaced, etc.: to jam a lock.

Radio.

to interfere with (radio signals or the like) by sending out other signals of approximately the same frequency.
(of radio signals or the like) to interfere with (other signals).

Music. to play (a piece) in a freely improvised, swinging way; jazz up: to jam both standard tunes and the classics.

Nautical. to head (a sailing ship) as nearly as possible into the wind without putting it in stays or putting it wholly aback.

verb (used without object), jammed, jam·ming.

to become stuck, wedged, fixed, blocked, etc.: This door jams easily.

to press or push, often violently, as into a confined space or against one another: They jammed into the elevator.

(of a machine, part, etc.) to become unworkable, as through the wedging or displacement of a part.

Music. to participate in a jam session.

to collaborate informally, freely, and creatively with others: Our department was jamming on a customer project and didn't have time to prep a demo for the conference.

Slang.

to make good progress; do well: Working alone is awesome when I’m jamming on a project that I love.
to thoroughly like or enjoy something: The colors came out rather well, but I'm just not jamming on the actual image.

noun

the act of jamming or the state of being jammed.

a mass of objects, vehicles, etc., jammed together or otherwise unable to move except slowly: a log jam; a traffic jam.

Informal. a difficult or embarrassing situation; fix: He got himself into a jam with his boss.

Music.

jam session.
a piece of music: On November 18, the 16-year-old star dropped her new jam, marking an evolution in her sound and style.

Slang.

something that one particularly likes, enjoys, or does well: Seriously, a huge meat patty and garlic fries are pretty much my jam after a day outside.Since math is not my jam, I’ll let y’all figure out the rest.
something that one finds pleasant or easy: Life isn't all jam for me just now.

a contest, meeting, or conference at which people collaborate informally, freely, and creatively: People from 158 countries registered for the jam and shared their ideas for action to improve the quality of life in the world’s cities.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of jam

First recorded in 1700–10; apparently imitative; cf. champ¹, dam¹

Words nearby jam

Jalisco, jalopy, jalor, jalouse, jalousie, jam, jamaat, Jamaica, Jamaica ginger, Jamaican, Jamaican ebony

Other definitions for jam (2 of 3)

jam²

[ jam ]

/ dʒæm /

noun

a preserve of whole fruit, slightly crushed, boiled with sugar: strawberry jam.

Origin of jam

First recorded in 1730–40; perhaps special use of jam¹ (in the sense “to bruise or crush by squeezing”)

OTHER WORDS FROM jam

jamlike, jammy, adjective

Other definitions for jam (3 of 3)

Jam.

abbreviation

Jamaica.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use jam in a sentence

Koslow had faced criticism earlier in the summer for serving moldy jam at her restaurant, allegedly taking credit for other people’s recipes, and hiding an illegal kitchen space from the health department.
The Mess That Is the 2020 James Beard Awards, Explained|Elazar Sontag|September 11, 2020|Eater
Many of these worker bees weren’t looking for electronic jams or Gregorian chants.
People who really miss the office are listening to its sounds at home|Tanya Basu|September 10, 2020|MIT Technology Review
In early April, during that brief phase when lockdown felt more like an unexplored alien planet than the inescapable traffic jam it soon became, I called Japan’s biggest karaoke operators to see what they made of it all.
Can Japan’s Karaoke Bars Survive the Pandemic?|Fiona Zublin|September 7, 2020|Ozy
That weekend and Monday saw 10-hour traffic jams to cross the border, the Union-Tribune reports.
Border Report: The Lingering Trauma of Family Separation|Maya Srikrishnan|August 31, 2020|Voice of San Diego

However, if that is your jam and a wall with a hole in it somewhere awaits you, have at it.
Sex Is Dead: Discuss|Eugene Robinson|August 10, 2020|Ozy
Most Cacophony events were one-off affairs, just enough to jam the culture a bit before moving on.
Before the Bros, SantaCon Was as an Anti-Corporate Protest|David Freedlander|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The rears of planes are becoming hell with smaller, harder seats to jam as many passengers in as possible.
Flying Coach Is the New Hell: How Airlines Engineer You Out of Room|Clive Irving|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like Jolly, most of the women raced other motorized vehicles before making it into Monster Jam.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture|Eliza Krigman|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2015, Monster Jam will have a fleet of eight female drivers.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture|Eliza Krigman|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When my British husband insisted that what he truly wanted for his birthday was to see a Monster Jam Truck show, I cringed inside.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture|Eliza Krigman|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He became the low-born, petty tradesman, using the language of the hands of his jam factory.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The system would be perfect for the mellowing of port or madeira, but when it is applied to plum and apple jam or, when 18 pr.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
I dont think much of this jam pie, complained Chet, holding up a wedge that he had taken from his sisters basket.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
A river a hundred feet in width was crossed by a convenient jam of logs and trees.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail|Arthur R. Thompson
If anybody else offered him a bigger piece, or more jam, he would very quickly leave me.
Digby Heathcote|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for jam (1 of 3)

jam¹

/ (dʒæm) /

verb jams, jamming or jammed

(tr) to cram or wedge into or against somethingto jam paper into an incinerator

(tr) to crowd or packcars jammed the roads

to make or become stuck or lockedthe switch has jammed

(tr often foll by on) to activate suddenly (esp in the phrase jam on the brakes)

(tr) to block; congestto jam the drain with rubbish

(tr) to crush, bruise, or squeeze; smash

radio to prevent the clear reception of (radio communications or radar signals) by transmitting other signals on the same frequency

(intr) slang to play in a jam session

noun

a crowd or congestion in a confined spacea traffic jam

the act of jamming or the state of being jammed

informal a difficult situation; predicamentto help a friend out of a jam

See jam session

Derived forms of jam

jammer, noun

Word Origin for jam

C18: probably of imitative origin; compare champ 1

British Dictionary definitions for jam (2 of 3)

jam²

/ (dʒæm) /

noun

a preserve containing fruit, which has been boiled with sugar until the mixture sets

slang something desirableyou want jam on it

jam today the principle of living for the moment

Word Origin for jam

C18: perhaps from jam 1 (the act of squeezing)

British Dictionary definitions for jam (3 of 3)

Jam.

abbreviation for

Jamaica

Bible James

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with jam

jam

see under get in a bind.

jam

Origin of jam

Words nearby jam

Other definitions for jam (2 of 3)

Origin of jam

OTHER WORDS FROM jam

Other definitions for jam (3 of 3)

Words related to jam

How to use jam in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jam (1 of 3)

Derived forms of jam

Word Origin for jam

British Dictionary definitions for jam (2 of 3)

Word Origin for jam

British Dictionary definitions for jam (3 of 3)

Other Idioms and Phrases with jam