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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

In both incidents, in February and March 2024, Ford drivers slammed into stationary vehicles while using BlueCruise, according to incident reports.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hannah pauses as a couple of dudes on four-wheelers roar by her, slamming to a stop at the fuel pump.

From Literature

The words slam into me, steal my breath, carve themselves into my brain so I don’t forget.

From Literature

The realms would surge, one final rush of power as the four doors slammed shut.

From Literature

At the time, LGBTQ+ advocates slammed the suit as baseless and damaging.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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