hammer

noun ham·mer \ ˈha-mər \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Examples: hammer in a Sentence

Definition of hammer

1 a : a hand tool consisting of a solid head set crosswise on a handle and used for pounding

b : a power tool that often substitutes a metal block or a drill for the hammerhead

2 : something that resembles a hammer in form or action: such as

a : a lever with a striking head for ringing a bell or striking a gong

b (1) : an arm that strikes the cap in a percussion lock to ignite the propelling charge

(2) : a part of the action of a modern gun that strikes the primer of the cartridge in firing or that strikes the firing pin to ignite the cartridge

c : malleus

d : gavel

e (1) : a padded mallet in a piano action for striking a string

(2) : a hand mallet for playing on various percussion instruments (such as a xylophone)

3 : a metal sphere thrown for distance in the hammer throw

4 : accelerator b

— under the hammer

: for sale at auction

See hammer defined for English-language learners

See hammer defined for kids

Recent Examples of hammer from the Web

Authorities in Florida have filed premeditated murder charges against a 42-year-old man accused of beating his sleeping wife with a hammer while their 8-year-old son slept nearby.

— chris harris, PEOPLE.com, "Dad Allegedly Beat Wife with Hammer as She Slept — Then Told Young Son to Look Away from Killing," 3 July 2018
While the victim, 33, was sleeping with her son in the same bed, the 42-year-old suspect confessed to striking his wife repeatedly in the head with a hammer.

— madeleine marr, miamiherald, "He tried to kill his wife with a hammer, cops say. Then he tried something else," 2 July 2018
As their son slept in the same bedroom, Marc Alan Berkowitz crushed Anastisiya Savitskaya’s skull with a hammer then ran into his mother’s bedroom to confess, Plantation police said.

— wayne k. roustan, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Man hammers wife's skull in front of their sleeping son then strangles her," 30 June 2018
Charges are pending for a woman who hit a girl in the face with a hammer during an argument at a Gold Coast business Monday night.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Police: Girl, 16, beaten in face with hammer on Gold Coast," 26 June 2018
In the first case, Weldon is accused of holding a woman captive and beating her with a hammer.

— laura crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, "Police collected nearly 200 pieces of evidence from Springfield home where investigators found 3 bodies," 24 June 2018
The two allegedly got into an argument, which led to her chasing him with the hammer.

— erik s. hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Woman arrested after chasing ex out of home with hammer and throwing it through a window in South Milwaukee," 22 June 2018
He’d been battered to death with a hammer — which was also buried — by his flatmate, the mural painter.

— Longreads, "Viv Albertine on Dating Again in Her 50s," 15 June 2018
Charles Crabtree had been struck repeatedly with a hammer on his head and body outside his trailer in the Campo Amigo park.

— sandra dibble, sandiegouniontribune.com, "U.S. couple found shot to death in Bahia de los Angeles," 4 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hammer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hammer

Middle English hamer, from Old English hamor; akin to Old High German hamar hammer, and perhaps to Old Church Slavonic kamen-, kamy stone, Greek akmē point, edge — more at edge

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

hammer

verb

Definition of hammer

hammered; hammering play \ˈha-mər-iŋ, ˈham-riŋ\

intransitive verb

1 : to strike blows especially repeatedly with or as if with a hammer : pound

2 : to make repeated efforts; especially : to reiterate an opinion or attitude

the lectures all hammered away at the same points

transitive verb

1 a : to beat, drive, or shape with repeated blows of a hammer

b : to fasten or build with a hammer

2 : to strike or drive with a force suggesting a hammer blow or repeated blows

hammered the ball over the fence

tried to hammer me into submission

3 : to criticize severely

—

hammerer

play \ˈha-mər-ər\ noun

See hammer defined for English-language learners

Examples of hammer in a Sentence

He hammered the dent out of the fender.
The carpenters were hammering all afternoon.
The workers are hammering the studs to the frame.
The batter hammered the ball over the fence.
Someone tried to hammer him over the head with a club.
Many towns were hammered by the hurricane.
The typist's fingers were hammering the keys.
He was hammering at the door.
The rain hammered down on the roof.
The home team was hammered 9–0.

Recent Examples of hammer from the Web

Meanwhile, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic was also quick to criticise England in his post-match press conference, hammering 'experts' who predicted that England could beat Croatia to reach their first final since 1966.

— SI.com, "Croatia Defender Sime Vrsaljko Slams 'Long Ball' England After Semi-Final Clash," 12 July 2018
Grullon hit 10 homers to Hilliard’s nine in the final round to claim the title, hammering the winner over the scoreboard in center field — 407 feet away — with 35 seconds still on the clock.

— ben pope, Philly.com, "Phillies prospect Jan Hernandez hopes all-star selection puts him 'on the map'," 11 July 2018
The iron-nickel alloy was supple and easily hammered into shape without breaking.

— jonathan schifman, Popular Mechanics, "The Entire History of Steel," 9 July 2018
But home-plate umpire Brian Gorman ruled it Ball 3, and Castro hammered Hader's next offering, a 93-mph fastball, over the left-center field wall.

— todd rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Marlins 4, Brewers 3 (10 innings): Hader surrenders back-to-back homers; offense struggles," 9 July 2018
His heart hammered his ribs and the Parasite gave another twitch.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "A transgender girl rises up against alien invaders in Rich Larson’s novel Annex," 8 July 2018
All this means that Wheeler will probably hammer away at the foundations of the EPA with the same vigor as Pruitt.

— umair irfan, Vox, "Scott Pruitt is leaving behind a toxic mess at the EPA," 6 July 2018
The variations change how targeted rows must be hammered.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "New RAMpage exploit revives Rowhammer attack to root Android devices," 2 July 2018
Along the coast, where months-long blooms hammered the St. Lucie in 2016, businesses and residents are bracing for the worst.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Massive and toxic algae bloom threatens Florida coasts with another lost summer," 29 June 2018

First Known Use of hammer

14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

hammer Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, bash, bat, belt, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap;

scuff;

bunt, flick, stroke, tap;

bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp;

bowl (down or over), cream, deck, fell, floor, knock down, level;

rabbit-punch, sucker punch;

cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip;

bean, brain, conk, skull;

Phrases

hang one on;

HAMMER Defined for English Language Learners

hammer

noun

Definition of hammer for English Language Learners

: a tool that has a heavy metal head attached to a handle and that is used for hitting nails or breaking things apart
: a similar tool made usually of wood and used especially for hitting a surface to make a loud noise
: the part of a gun that strikes a charge causing the gun to shoot

hammer

verb

Definition of hammer for English Language Learners

: to force (something) into a particular place or shape by hitting it with a hammer
: to attach (something) with a hammer and nails
: to hit (something or someone) in a very forceful way