ahem
interjection
a throat-clearing sound; often read as
ə-ˈhem 
—used especially to attract attention or to express disapproval or embarrassment
Examples of ahem in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tori Spelling's Beverly Hills, 90210 character, Donna Martin, was famously a virgin throughout most of the series, despite many of her peers (ahem, Shannen Doherty's Brenda and Luke Perry's Dylan) having gone all the way early into the Fox drama's 10-year run.
—
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Nov. 2025
Consider this minimalist catchall an add-on to an already thoughtful jewelry gift (ahem, see below).
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2025
Sandell was one of the latest to, ahem, take it in the shorts Saturday.
—Alex Valdes, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Farrell’s Sonny Crockett is a brooding, messy, temperamental cop whose impulsiveness and (ahem) intensity is balanced by his mopey vulnerability.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
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Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Nov. 2025
Consider this minimalist catchall an add-on to an already thoughtful jewelry gift (ahem, see below).
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2025
Sandell was one of the latest to, ahem, take it in the shorts Saturday.
—Alex Valdes, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Farrell’s Sonny Crockett is a brooding, messy, temperamental cop whose impulsiveness and (ahem) intensity is balanced by his mopey vulnerability.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ahem
Cite this Entry
“Ahem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ahem. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
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