Shem

American

[shem] / ʃɛm /

Douay Bible, Sem

noun

the eldest of the three sons of Noah. Genesis 10:21.

Shem British

/ ʃɛm /

noun

Douay spelling: Sem. Old Testament the eldest of Noah's three sons (Genesis 10:21)

"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

Etymology

Origin of Shem

From Late Latin Sem, from Greek Sḗm, from Hebrew Shēm, of uncertain origin

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.

See Examples For:

Shem

Mr. Shem Tov’s testimony shows what that “but” leaves out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

“Bring them back!” shouted Omer Shem Tov, a hostage freed in a previous prisoner exchange with Hamas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2025

"You start having terrible thoughts," admitted Omer Shem Tov, who was taken hostage at the Nova festival and also kept in isolation, speaking to Israeli public broadcaster, Kan. "Every day feels like an eternity."

From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2025

"I'm excited for the families who today are going to hug their loved ones," Shelly Shem Tov, the mother of Omer Shem Tov, 21, said in an interview with Israel's Channel 12.

From Reuters ● Nov. 25, 2023

But Shem, Ham, and Japheth got on the boat so they were A-okay.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023