slam

¹ American  

[slam] / slæm /

verb (used with or without object)

slammed, slamming

1. to shut with force and noise.

   to slam the door.

2. to dash, strike, knock, thrust, throw, slap down, etc., with violent and noisy impact.

   He slammed his books upon the table.

3. Informal. to criticize harshly; attack verbally.

   He slammed my taste mercilessly.

---

noun

1. a violent and noisy closing, dashing, or impact.

2. the noise so made.

3. Slang. Usually the slam slammer.

4. Informal. a harsh criticism; verbal attack.

   I am sick of your slams.

5. Informal.

   1. Also called poetry slam.  a competitive, usually boisterous poetry reading.

   2. a usually competitive performance involving multiple performers with short acts: a tap dance slam.

      puppet slams;

      a tap dance slam.

slam ² American  

[slam] / slæm /

noun

Cards.

1. the winning or bidding of all the tricks or all the tricks but one in a deal.

2. an old type of card game associated with ruff.

---

slam ¹ British  

/ slæm /

verb

1. to cause (a door or window) to close noisily and with force or (of a door, etc) to close in this way

2. (tr) to throw (something) down noisily and violently

3. slang (tr) to criticize harshly

4. informal (intr; usually foll by into or out of) to go (into or out of a room, etc) in violent haste or anger

5. (tr) to strike with violent force

6. informal (tr) to defeat easily

---

noun

1. the act or noise of slamming

2. slang harsh criticism or abuse

slam ² British  

/ slæm /

noun

1. 1. the winning of all (grand slam) or all but one (little slam or small slam) of the 13 tricks at bridge or whist

   2. the bid to do so in bridge See grand slam little slam

2. an old card game

---

slam ³ British  

/ slæm /

noun

1. a poetry contest in which entrants compete with each other by reciting their work and are awarded points by the audience

---

Other Word Forms

• unslammed adjective

Etymology

Origin of slam¹

First recorded in 1650–60; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish slamra “to bang (a door), slam”

Origin of slam²

First recorded in 1660–70; perhaps special use of slam ¹

Example Sentences

For more than a decade, McIlroy had been motivated by ending his drought at majors and completing the career grand slam.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

“I felt like the career grand slam was my destination, and I got there, and then I realized it wasn’t the destination.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Freddie Freeman, whose grand slam doomed the New York Yankees, held the 2024 trophy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Across the backends of the internet, cheeky characterizations of Norris-as-god still abound: Chuck Norris can believe it’s not butter, Chuck Norris doesn’t dodge bullets—they dodge him, Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

They slam into an invisible wall and topple backward.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• bang
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belt
• blast
• crash
• dash
• fling
• hit
• hurl
• knock
• slap
• smash
• strike
• swat