clam

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈklam How to pronounce clam (audio)
Synonyms of clamnext
: clamp, clasp

clam

2 of 3

noun (2)

often attributive
1
a
: any of numerous edible marine bivalve mollusks living in sand or mud
b
: a freshwater mussel
2
: a stolid or closemouthed person
3
: clamshell
4
informal : dollar sense 1

Illustration of clam

Illustration of clam
  • a incurrent orifice
  • b siphon
  • c excurrent orifice
  • d mantle
  • e shell
  • f foot

clam

3 of 3

verb

clammed; clamming

intransitive verb

: to gather clams especially by digging
clammer
ˈkla-mər How to pronounce clam (audio)
noun

Synonyms of clam

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Noun (2)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of clam in a Sentence

Noun (2) it must take a whole lot of clams to buy a car like that
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The fallout has been steep, resulting in shredded nets, decimated clam beds and mussel stocks, and hundreds of shuttered fisheries along the Italian coast. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Imagine someone forgot a bowl of New England clam chowder in the back of a cloth-upholstered car during the height of a Florida summer. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
Check the tide before venturing out, as clamming is only accessible on foot during low tide. — Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026 Along the Atlantic coast of Europe a cancer riddles the golden carpet shell clam, Polititapes aureus, yet genotyping showed its cells are not that clam’s at all. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clam

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English clamm bond, fetter; akin to Old High German klamma constriction and perhaps to Latin glomus ball

Noun (2)

a derivative sense of clam entry 1; from the clamping action of the shells

Verb

derivative of clam entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clam was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing clam

Rhymes for clam

See All Rhymes for clam

Browse Nearby Words

Clallam
clam
clamant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clam. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clam

1 of 2 noun
ˈklam How to pronounce clam (audio)
1
: any of numerous edible marine mollusks that have two hinged shells and live in sand or mud
2
: a freshwater mussel

clam

2 of 2 verb
clammed; clamming
: to dig or gather clams

More from Merriam-Webster on clam

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clam

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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