jam

¹

[ jam ]

verb (used with object)

, jammed, jam·ming.

1. to press, squeeze, or wedge tightly between bodies or surfaces, so that motion or extrication is made difficult or impossible:

   The ship was jammed between two rocks.

2. to bruise or crush by squeezing:

   She jammed her hand in the door.

3. to fill too tightly; cram:

   He jammed the suitcase with clothing.

4. to press, push, or thrust violently, as into a confined space or against some object:

   She jammed her foot on the brake.

5. to fill or block up by crowding; pack or obstruct:

   Crowds jammed the doors.

6. to put or place in position with a violent gesture (often followed by on ):

   He jammed his hat on and stalked out of the room.

7. to make (something) unworkable by causing parts to become stuck, blocked, caught, displaced, etc.:

   to jam a lock.

8. Radio.
   1. to interfere with (radio signals or the like) by sending out other signals of approximately the same frequency.
   2. (of radio signals or the like) to interfere with (other signals).
9. Music. to play (a piece) in a freely improvised, swinging way; jazz up:

   to jam both standard tunes and the classics.

10. Nautical. to head (a sailing ship) as nearly as possible into the wind without putting it in stays or putting it wholly aback.

verb (used without object)

, jammed, jam·ming.

1. to become stuck, wedged, fixed, blocked, etc.:

   This door jams easily.

2. to press or push, often violently, as into a confined space or against one another:

   They jammed into the elevator.

3. (of a machine, part, etc.) to become unworkable, as through the wedging or displacement of a part.
4. Music. to participate in a jam session.
5. to collaborate informally, freely, and creatively with others:

   Our department was jamming on a customer project and didn't have time to prep a demo for the conference.

6. Slang.
   1. to make good progress; do well:

      Working alone is awesome when I’m jamming on a project that I love.

   2. to thoroughly like or enjoy something:

      The colors came out rather well, but I'm just not jamming on the actual image.

noun

1. the act of jamming or the state of being jammed.
2. a mass of objects, vehicles, etc., jammed together or otherwise unable to move except slowly:

   a log jam; a traffic jam.

3. Informal. a difficult or embarrassing situation; fix:

   He got himself into a jam with his boss.

4. Music.
   1. jam session.
   2. a piece of music:

      On November 18, the 16-year-old star dropped her new jam, marking an evolution in her sound and style.

5. Slang.
   1. something that one particularly likes, enjoys, or does well: Since math is not my jam, I’ll let y’all figure out the rest.

      Seriously, a huge meat patty and garlic fries are pretty much my jam after a day outside.

      Since math is not my jam, I’ll let y’all figure out the rest.

   2. something that one finds pleasant or easy:

      Life isn't all jam for me just now.

6. a contest, meeting, or conference at which people collaborate informally, freely, and creatively:

   People from 158 countries registered for the jam and shared their ideas for action to improve the quality of life in the world’s cities.

jam

²

[ jam ]

noun

1. a preserve of whole fruit, slightly crushed, boiled with sugar:

   strawberry jam.

Jam.

³

abbreviation for

1. Jamaica.

jam

¹

/ dʒæm /

noun

1. a preserve containing fruit, which has been boiled with sugar until the mixture sets
2. slang.
   something desirable

   you want jam on it

3. jam today
   the principle of living for the moment

jam

²

/ dʒæm /

verb

1. tr to cram or wedge into or against something

   to jam paper into an incinerator

2. tr to crowd or pack

   cars jammed the roads

3. to make or become stuck or locked

   the switch has jammed

4. troften foll byon to activate suddenly (esp in the phrase jam on the brakes )
5. tr to block; congest

   to jam the drain with rubbish

6. tr to crush, bruise, or squeeze; smash
7. radio to prevent the clear reception of (radio communications or radar signals) by transmitting other signals on the same frequency
8. slang.
   intr to play in a jam session

noun

1. a crowd or congestion in a confined space

   a traffic jam

2. the act of jamming or the state of being jammed
3. informal.
   a difficult situation; predicament

   to help a friend out of a jam

4. See jam session

Jam.

³

abbreviation for

1. Jamaica
2. Bible James

Derived Forms

• ˈjammer, noun

Other Words From

• jamlike jammy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jam¹

First recorded in 1700–10; apparently imitative; champ ¹, dam ¹

Origin of jam²

First recorded in 1730–40; perhaps special use of jam ¹ (in the sense “to bruise or crush by squeezing”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of jam¹

C18: perhaps from jam ¹(the act of squeezing)

Origin of jam²

C18: probably of imitative origin; compare champ ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. put on jam, Australian Slang. to adopt a self-important manner or use affected speech.

More idioms and phrases containing jam

see under get in a bind .

Example Sentences

Sexyy Red turned up for a rowdy take on the marching-band jam “Sticky” and playfully spanked Tyler after he did the same to her; Tyler took a hit from his asthma inhaler after that one.

From Los Angeles Times

The benefit of being the first generation into a psychic sect is that there’s a lot they don’t or cannot know yet, which I’m guessing makes it somewhat easier on the poor scribes trying to figure out how to jam the legend of the giant worm god into naturalistic dialogue.

From Salon

The ride turns into a giant jam session.

From Los Angeles Times

In July 2020, an alt-right group called the New Jersey European Heritage Association began tacking up posters in Pennsylvania warning that immigration would turn the first world into “the third”; the former was pictured as bucolic green hills, the latter as a smog-choked traffic jam.

From Salon

This was a multicity blast in October of that year, featuring everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Babyface, Pearl Jam to Bonnie Raitt.

From Slate