clamor

1 of 3

noun

clam·​or ˈkla-mər How to pronounce clamor (audio)
1
a
: noisy shouting
a clamor of children at play
b
: a loud continuous noise
the clamor of the waterfall
2
: insistent public expression (as of support or protest)
the current clamor about what is wrong with our schools

clamor

2 of 3

verb (1)

clamored; clamoring ˈklam-riŋ How to pronounce clamor (audio)
ˈkla-mər-iŋ

intransitive verb

1
: to make a din (see din entry 1 sense 1)
The children clamored around them, singing songs and laughing.
2
: to become loudly insistent
clamored for his impeachment
clamoring for full independence

transitive verb

1
: to utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
cart peddlers clamored their waresWalter Farley
2
: to influence by means of clamor

clamor

3 of 3

verb (2)

clamored; clamoring; clamors

Did you know?

The clamor on Broadway at midday can be astonishing to a tourist from a midwestern town; if they happen to be digging up the street with jackhammers, the clamor can be even worse. The clamor on the floor of a stock exchange goes on without stopping for seven hours every day. A clamor of protest may sometimes be quieter, but is often just as hard to ignore. A politician who receives a thousand emails a day clamoring for his resignation might as well be listening to an angry crowd.

Examples of clamor in a Sentence

Noun A clamor outside woke them in the night. city streets filled with clamor a public clamor for an arrest in the case There is growing clamor for reform.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Despite all of Adidas’s attempts to get its official Messi jerseys into stores as quickly as possible, the clamor for them — any version of them — has proved so great that counterfeits have flooded the global market to meet the shortfall. Rory Smith, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2023 And while legal experts called the Republicans’ argument dubious, many worry that the growing clamor could have a chilling effect on corporate efforts to counter generations of discrimination. Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 19 July 2023 High above the clamor of Monterosso’s village life, Casa di Andrea oozes with charm and garden views. Kasia Dietz, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2023 Still, the rising clamor is creating a rare convergence between the two parties, which for years have fought in seemingly parallel political universes. Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023 This collective clamor eventually convinced the local authorities to change course. Hubert Joly, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2023 Behind those doors, amid the clamor, dozens of machinists and artisans conduct the process of melting and casting bronze alloy into a gleaming finished product, ready to keep time. James Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023 The religious critics’ views were not majority opinions and clamor has gradually faded, with many theatergoers viewing the protests as unwarranted attacks against the actor that only amplified people’s affection for SRK. Times multiplatform editor Rubaina Azhar contributed to this report. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023 As the Cold War created a clamor for more scientific training, universities rushed to build classrooms and dorms for the first wave of baby boomers and lobbied Congress for funding and authority to take over surrounding areas. Brandi Kellam, ProPublica, 5 Sep. 2023
Verb
Lawmakers have clamored for action as the popularity of generative AI tools has exploded in recent months. Cristiano Lima, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023 This divine cake makes use of seven Milky Way candy bars (plus additional for garnishing) for a decadent dessert that will have kids and adults clamoring for more. Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2023 With little alternative, and Senate Republicans clamoring for the House bill, the Senate jettisoned its own stopgap measure that contained $6 billion for Ukraine and approved the House version on an 88 to 9 vote. Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2023 That brought the record-setting crowd of over 88,000 people to Jordan-Hare Stadium, the crowd on Donahue that all clamored for a high-five or a photo with the new head coach. Matt Cohen | McOhen@al.com, al, 3 Sep. 2023 While Friends officially ended in May 2004, fans clamored for a reboot, which often was rumored but didn’t appear to be in the cards. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2023 Peak Cameo Investors clamored to give Cameo more money, partly because in the fever dream of 2021, investors clamored to give any start-up more money. Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, 20 Oct. 2023 Since Feinstein’s announcement — and even a bit before — several candidates clamored early to announce bids for the seat. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2023 After a year of fans clamoring for visuals, Beyoncé has finally snapped. Amel Mukhtar, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clamor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French clamour, from Latin clamor, from clamare to cry out — more at claim

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clamor was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near clamor

Cite this Entry

“Clamor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clamor. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

clamor

noun
clam·​or
ˈklam-ər
1
a
: a noisy shouting
b
: a loud continuous noise
2
: strong and active protest or demand
clamor verb
clamorous
-(ə-)rəs
adjective
clamorously adverb
Etymology

Noun

Middle English clamor "noisy shouting," from early French clamour (same meaning), derived from Latin clamare "to shout" — related to acclaim, claim

More from Merriam-Webster on clamor

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