Illustration of clam
- a incurrent orifice
- b siphon
- c excurrent orifice
- d mantle
- e shell
- f foot
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
4
informal
: dollar sense 1
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
Connie Ogle
may 15, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Besides the clam chowder, make sure to order the Big Dean’s Cheeseburger, which is a double meat and double cheese monster, and the menu also includes a seriously good chili dog.
—Richard Guzman, Daily News, 13 May 2026
Daisy MacLellan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026
Swim in your pool and go clamming.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clam
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Noun
There’s a raw bar with oysters, ceviche and the Seafood Colosseum with oysters, lobster, mussels, clams and the ceviche of the day with caviar.
—Connie Ogle
may 15, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Besides the clam chowder, make sure to order the Big Dean’s Cheeseburger, which is a double meat and double cheese monster, and the menu also includes a seriously good chili dog.
—Richard Guzman, Daily News, 13 May 2026
Verb
The town boasts a fascinating history of shipbuilders, sea captains, clamming, and foreign trade.
—Daisy MacLellan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026
Swim in your pool and go clamming.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clam
Cite this Entry
“Clam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clam. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clam
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
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