ahem

interjection

a throat-​clearing sound; often read as
ə-ˈhem How to pronounce ahem (audio)
used especially to attract attention or to express disapproval or embarrassment

Examples of ahem in a Sentence

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.
As if this summer's scorching weather prediction from the Old Farmer's Almanac wasn't enough to set us all—ahem—ablaze, hurricane season 2025 is also poised to set some records. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 10 May 2025 Pick an untouched beach and hide away for an afternoon; while nearby islands are all about seeing and being seen (ahem: St. Barts), vacationers in Antigua usually have a bit more privacy in mind. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2025 Gael Cameron and Nathan Gallagher are getting ready for the next charter — ahem, chapter — in their lives. Hannah Sacks, People.com, 1 May 2025 Has Emperor Palpatine ever been able to, ahem, do it? EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ahem

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ahem was in 1603

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ahem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ahem. Accessed 19 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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