Definition of ahem
—used especially to attract attention or to express disapproval or embarrassment
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Recent Examples of ahem from the Web
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Tom Steinbach is the guy who keeps the Ocomonomoc River and all its tributaries and lakes clean (ahem, like Lac La Belle and Fowler Lake).
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And, true to her, ahem, reputation, the 2017 MTV VMAs were no different: Perry wore nine ensembles total, all of which were appropriately OTT and formidable contenders for a spot among the most memorable outfits in the award show's history.
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Ostriches, by the way, often have sticky fingers, ahem, beaks.
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What an episode for touching (longing?) gazes between potential family members, completely awful plans, ignoring the single most important development of this series thus far (ahem, Sam) and of course, impending doom.
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Now, nearly half a century later, the program is—ahem—under water by $24.6 billion.
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This explains why the toilet currently sits perfectly upright, as if awaiting the return of, ahem, Captain John.
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The gloaming setting, the dead girl at the heart of the narrative, the casual use of the gory or grotesque, even the ominous synth theme (ahem, Stranger Things)—these have all become familiar tropes.
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The team’s closer — Francisco Rodriguez — is in the minors, hoping to get another chance, ahem, with Washington.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ahem.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of ahem
AHEM Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of ahem for English Language Learners
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—used in writing to represent a sound that is like a quiet cough that people make especially to attract attention or to express disapproval or embarrassment
Learn More about ahem
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See words that rhyme with ahem Spanish Central: Translation of ahem
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