Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

clam up

verb
clammed up; clamming up; clams up

Definition of clam up

intransitive verb

: to become silent clammed up and refused to talk
Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about clam up

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for clam up

Synonyms

belt up [British], dry up, dummy up, hush, pipe down, quiet (down), shut up

Antonyms

speak, talk

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of clam up in a Sentence

the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room

First Known Use of clam up

1916, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about clam up

Statistics for clam up

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for clam up

The first known use of clam up was in 1916

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on clam up

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with clam up

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for clam up

Spanish Central: Translation of clam up

Nglish: Translation of clam up for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of clam up for Arabic Speakers

Comments on clam up

What made you want to look up clam up? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

disparage

Listen to the pronounciation of disparage

to speak slightingly about or to degrade

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

  • stylized drawing of woman pole vaulting across gap to get trophy
  • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games