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. Verb (1) a dozen customers clamoring for service all at once
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Powering Up Smart Cities With there being a rising clamor for sustainability, the carbon footprint of smart cities is also being called into sharp focus. Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 Among those arrested was a New York City high school student who ICE took into custody after his hearing last week, prompting a clamor of protests. Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 30 May 2025
Verb
The hospitality and medical industries clamored many decades ago for a chlorine bleach substitute. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025 Are consumers clamoring for radical changes instead of everyday improvements? Rytis Lauris, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for clamor

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clamor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clamor. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

clamor

noun
clam·​or
ˈklam-ər
1
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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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