spasm

American  

[spaz-uhm] / ˈspæz əm /

noun

• spasms
  plural

1. Pathology. a sudden, abnormal, involuntary muscular contraction, consisting of a continued muscular contraction tonic spasm or of a series of alternating muscular contractions and relaxations clonic spasm.

2. any sudden, brief spell of great energy, activity, feeling, etc.

   Synonyms:

   spurt, flash, storm, fit

---

verb (used without object)

1. to undergo a spasm or spasms.

   Her eyesight had changed, and tests showed the muscles that allow the eye to focus were spasming.

spasm British  

/ ˈspæzəm /

noun

1. an involuntary muscular contraction, esp one resulting in cramp or convulsion

2. a sudden burst of activity, emotion, etc

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spasms
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of spasm

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English spasme, spasom, from Old French (e)spasme and Latin spasmus, from Greek spasmós “convulsion,” derivative of spân “to draw (a sword), pull out, tear out, suck in, slurp down”

---

Explanation

A spasm is a sudden constriction of a muscle or blood vessel. This idea can be generalized to anything that occurs suddenly and lasts a short while. Except for a brief spasm of yard work, you had a perfectly lazy Sunday. The Greeks had a word called spasmós, which meant "to cramp or convulse." It also meant "to tear away or violently pull," which, if you've ever suffered a muscle spasm you know is a good definition. The word had a physical meaning up until around 1817, when it came to include the abstract. When you were invited to go hiking in the redwood forest, you could hardly control your spasms of joy. Make sure you stretch before hiking, so you don't get muscle spasms.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spasm spasms

Unlike bear-market bottoms, which typically end with a spasm of despair as traders throw in the towel, bull-market tops are far more gradual and less dramatic.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

While my vocal cords spasm apart, his spasm together; while my voice gets soft and whispery, his voice is tight and gravelly.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

“The recent spasm of anti-Jewish hatred that has swept the country has shocked and scared many,” wrote Simon Sebag Montefiore, a prominent British historian on X Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

India skipper Shubman Gill went out retired hurt for four with a neck spasm and did not return to bat in the innings that ended in the second session.

From Barron's ● Nov. 15, 2025

And indeed, even as the door slammed behind me, a spasm of coughing seized my chest and throat.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

While there is no sign of market panic yet, periodic spasms in the bond market—including the recent jump in Treasury yields to 24-year highs—give a hint of what’s at stake.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

Some users experience abdominal pain and spasms, or "K cramps" too.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

If their CTmax is exceeded, insects succumb to desiccation, muscle spasms and eventual stupor.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026

Ron spasms under his desk, stifled by the small space; a colleague dries a co-worker’s hair with a piece of paper after blowing bubbles in it; Ron does the loudest meal prep you’ll ever hear.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Tiamat, half in the circle and half out, was shaking with terrible spasms.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• contraction
• convulsion
• eruption
• outburst
• pain
• paroxysm
• seizure

---