wham

[ wam, hwam ]

noun

1. a loud sound produced by an explosion or sharp impact:

   the wham of a pile driver.

2. a forcible impact.

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation suggestive of a loud slam, blow, or the like.)

verb (used with or without object)

, whammed, wham·ming.

1. to hit or make a forcible impact, especially one producing a loud sound:

   The boat whammed into the dock.

   He whammed the door shut.

adverb

1. Also abruptly; with startling suddenness:

   The car ran wham up against the building.

wham

/ wæm /

noun

1. a forceful blow or impact or the sound produced by such a blow or impact

interjection

1. an exclamation imitative of this sound

verb

1. to strike or cause to strike with great force

Word History and Origins

Origin of wham¹

First recorded in 1730–40; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of wham¹

C20: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

I don’t need this emotional wham on top of everything else I’m dealing with.

From Washington Post

Gow heard branches fall, and as he turned, a bear hit the ground with a wham!

From ProPublica

One day you reach down to pick up a bag, sleep in an awkward position, or fall on the street, and— WHAM— your back gets injured.

From The Daily Beast

Sure, the standard carols and tracks by the likes of the Beach Boys, Wham!

From The Daily Beast

There’s Muslim-baiting imagery borrowed from 24 and an absurd ‘80s nostalgia sing-along that would make the boys from Wham!

From The Daily Beast

Her pregnancy was heralded in the Sun with the headline “Wham Bam Sam Cam.”

From The Daily Beast

There was a sudden catastrophic whooshing roar and, wham, a tree took flame for roots.

From Project Gutenberg

"Yo' may tell wham yo' like what yo' like," the girl replied coldly; yet there was a tremor in her voice.

From Project Gutenberg

In a jiffy, I'd be going slippety-sizzle over the edge of the eaves and land with a wham at Poetry's feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Is his dochter Jeanie, wham ye intend for my mither's servant, like her father?

From Project Gutenberg

But considere also quod she in wham is blisfulnesse enhabite.

From Project Gutenberg