jam

1 of 4

noun (1)

: a food made by boiling fruit and sugar to a thick consistency
jammy adjective

jam

2 of 4

verb

jammed; jamming

intransitive verb

1
a
: to become blocked, wedged, or stuck fast
The line jammed and the boat hung useless.
b
: to become unworkable when a movable part becomes blocked or stuck
the gun jammed
2
: to force one's way into a restricted space
People continued to jam into the already crowded hall.
3
: to improvise on a musical instrument with a group : to take part in a jam session
musicians jamming together
4
basketball : dunk sense 2

transitive verb

1
a
: to press into a close or tight position
jammed his hat on
b(1)
: to cause to become wedged or stuck so as to be unworkable
jam the typewriter keys
(2)
: to make (machinery) unworkable by becoming wedged or stuck
The paper jammed the printer.
c
: to block passage of : obstruct
traffic jammed by an accident
d
: to fill often to excess : pack
the crowd jammed the theater
2
: to push forcibly
jammed the shovel into the ground
especially : to apply (brakes) suddenly and forcibly
used with on
suddenly jammed on the brakes
3
: to cause (a part of the body) to be painfully crushed or squeezed
jammed his finger in the door
4
a
: to make unintelligible by sending out interfering signals or messages
jam a radio broadcast
b
: to make (a radar apparatus) ineffective by sending out interfering signals or by causing reflection of radar waves
trying to jam the enemy's radar
5
football : to block, crowd, or bump (a pass receiver) near the line of scrimmage
The receiver got jammed at the line.
6
baseball : to pitch inside to (a batter)
jammed him with a fastball
jammer noun

jam

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
a
: a crowded mass that impedes or blocks movement
a traffic jam
b
: an act or instance of becoming blocked or jammed (see jam entry 2)
paper causing a jam of the copier
2
a
: the quality or state of being blocked, stopped, or jammed
the jam of the legislature caused by the piling up of new bills in the final days
b
: the pressure or congestion of a crowd : crush
a jam of people
3
: a difficult situation or state of affairs : fix
got into a jam
4
5
basketball : dunk shot
6
slang
a
: a musical piece
Although Rodriguez claimed to know nothing about music, he seemed certain of one thing regarding Lopez's latest jam: "I knew it was going to be a smash the first time I heard it."Abby Jones
especially : one that is favored or preferred over others
Everyone has their song—or songs—they listen to when they are doing some kind of exercise. For Carrie Underwood, though, it sounds like her jam is whatever music she's just discovered. Alison Bonaguro
b
: a favorite or much-loved item, subject, interest, activity, etc.
We think potatoes go with pretty much everything, and these are a straightforward classic that pairs beautifully with the brightly flavored, mustardy chicken. Leave out the oregano if you don't have it or if it's not your jam.Margaux Laskey
In college, reading his [Robert F. Kennedy's] speeches—"that was my jam," she [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] said.David Remnick
… he loves to go grocery shopping at PCC, and his oldest son introduced him recently to New Seasons Market. Cooking—especially making salmon—is his jam.Lisa Patterson

Jam

4 of 4

abbreviation

Jamaica

Examples of jam in a Sentence

Verb Thousands of people jammed into the hall. People were jamming the exits after the concert. He jammed the book back into the bookcase. She jammed her foot down hard on the brakes. She jammed on the brakes. A piece of paper jammed the copy machine.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Essentials: Don’t leave town without: Beans, jams, and grains from Granor Farm and New Buffalo Farmers Market. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 21 Mar. 2024 In the bottom of the third, a four-pitch leadoff walk and ensuing wild pitch put Glasnow in a jam, setting up Xander Bogaerts for an RBI single. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Oysters are prepared seven different ways, from raw with baja mignonette, yuzu green peppercorn sauce, or cocktail sauce and lemon to jerk-style, with a Caribbean-spiced jam. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Peoria Artisan Brewing, Peoria Peoria Artisan Brewing's namesake PAB burger comprises an Arizona Angus beef patty, bacon jam, lettuce, tomato, onion, Muenster cheese and aioli on a brioche bun. Details: 10144 W. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., Peoria. Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Small restaurants, especially family-owned, are my jam. Kathryn Shattuck, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Bake the squash on the bottom rack and the chickpeas on the upper rack until a knife slides easily through the squash and the chickpeas and tomatoes are dark red and thick like jam, 2 to 2½ hours, stirring the chickpeas occasionally. Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 For a bit more adrenaline, the Class IV New River Dries section rushes through soaring, narrow cliffs as rafters navigate tight boulder jams and giant waves. Emily Pennington, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Shortly after play resumed, Furphy took off from the left corner, went through the middle and delivered a monstrous jam. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
Watch Malone jamming out to his Wallen collab below. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024 After jamming on some songs that would eventually appear on Blackberry Smoke’s 2003 debut album, Bad Luck Ain’t No Crime, the band added guitarist Paul Jackson to become a quartet. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024 Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center 2017-2019 Fort Wayne's Ruoff Home Mortgage bought the naming rights following the venue's 2017 season and promptly jammed its full title into the new name. Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024 After their car veers off the road and hits a tree, Allie jams a shard of broken headlight glass into her captor’s eye and escapes. Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Book Now Courtesy of the Eliza Jane Hotel New Orleans Another stellar option for a bachelorette trip that’s catered toward a bride who loves to eat, drink, and jam out to live music is, of course, the Big Easy. Juliet Izon, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2024 According to police, Baby K attempted to shoot a 14-year-old boy multiple times aboard the bus with a gun that jammed each time. Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Nearly 5,000 fans jammed the arena for Sunday’s Faith and Family Day event. Zach Welch, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2024 But each Breakwater only jams one band, so several may be needed. David Hambling, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably from jam entry 2

Verb and Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1736, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1706, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of jam was in 1706

Dictionary Entries Near jam

Cite this Entry

“Jam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jam. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jam

1 of 3 verb
jammed; jamming
1
a
: to press or push into a close or tight position
jam a book into a bookcase
b
: to be or cause to be wedged so as to be unworkable
jam the typewriter keys
c
: to crowd into : pack
2000 people jammed the hall
2
: to push suddenly and with force
jam on the brakes
3
: to squeeze or crush painfully
jammed my finger in the door
4
: to make impossible to understand by sending out interfering signals or messages
jam a radio broadcast
5
: to take part in a jam session
jammer noun

jam

2 of 3 noun
1
a
: an act or instance of jamming
b
: a crowded mass that slows or prevents movement
traffic jam
2
: a difficult state of affairs

jam

3 of 3 noun
: a food made of fruit and sugar thickened by boiling

More from Merriam-Webster on jam

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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