: a food made by boiling fruit and sugar to a thick consistency
jammed; jamming
1
a
: to become blocked, wedged, or stuck fast
The line jammed and the boat hung useless.
b
: to become unworkable when a movable part becomes blocked or stuck
the gun jammed
2
: to force one's way into a restricted space
People continued to jam into the already crowded hall.
3
: to improvise on a musical instrument with a group : to take part in a jam session
musicians jamming together
4
basketball
: dunk sense 2
1
a
: to press into a close or tight position
jammed his hat on
b(1)
: to cause to become wedged or stuck so as to be unworkable
jam the typewriter keys
(2)
: to make (machinery) unworkable by becoming wedged or stuck
The paper jammed the printer.
c
: to block passage of : obstruct
traffic jammed by an accident
d
: to fill often to excess : pack
the crowd jammed the theater
2
: to push forcibly
jammed the shovel into the ground
especially
: to apply (brakes) suddenly and forcibly
—used with on
suddenly jammed on the brakes
3
: to cause (a part of the body) to be painfully crushed or squeezed
jammed his finger in the door
4
a
: to make unintelligible by sending out interfering signals or messages
jam a radio broadcast
b
: to make (a radar apparatus) ineffective by sending out interfering signals or by causing reflection of radar waves
trying to jam the enemy's radar
5
football
: to block, crowd, or bump (a pass receiver) near the line of scrimmage
The receiver got jammed at the line.
6
baseball
: to pitch inside to (a batter)
jammed him with a fastball
1
a
: a crowded mass that impedes or blocks movement
a traffic jam
b
: an act or instance of becoming blocked or jammed (see jam entry 2)
paper causing a jam of the copier
2
a
: the quality or state of being blocked, stopped, or jammed
the jam of the legislature caused by the piling up of new bills in the final days
b
: the pressure or congestion of a crowd : crush
a jam of people
3
: a difficult situation or state of affairs : fix
got into a jam
4
5
basketball
: dunk shot
6
slang
a
: a musical piece
Although Rodriguez claimed to know nothing about music, he seemed certain of one thing regarding Lopez's latest jam: "I knew it was going to be a smash the first time I heard it."—
Abby Jones
Abby Jones
especially
: one that is favored or preferred over others
Everyone has their song—or songs—they listen to when they are doing some kind of exercise. For Carrie Underwood, though, it sounds like her jam is whatever music she's just discovered. —Alison Bonaguro
Alison Bonaguro
b
: a favorite or much-loved item, subject, interest, activity, etc.
We think potatoes go with pretty much everything, and these are a straightforward classic that pairs beautifully with the brightly flavored, mustardy chicken. Leave out the oregano if you don't have it or if it's not your jam.—Margaux Laskey
Margaux LaskeyIn college, reading his [Robert F. Kennedy's] speeches—"that was my jam," she [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] said.—David Remnick
David Remnick… he loves to go grocery shopping at PCC, and his oldest son introduced him recently to New Seasons Market. Cooking—especially making salmon—is his jam.—Lisa Patterson
Lisa Patterson
Jamaica
Synonyms
Examples of jam in a Sentence
Verb
Thousands of people jammed into the hall.
People were jamming the exits after the concert.
He jammed the book back into the bookcase.
She jammed her foot down hard on the brakes.
She jammed on the brakes.
A piece of paper jammed the copy machine.
Recent Examples on the WebVanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
If that’s not your jam, this protein comes in nearly 20 flavors that run the gamut from Rocky Road to Banana Cream.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 8 Apr. 2024
Served on a soft brioche buns with American-style cheese (which melts way better than cheddar) and creamy kewpie mayo, the burgers are ultra-tender, seasoned well and have a great char, and the onion jam and tasty sauces are delicious.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Perhaps this country-pop jam from Zolita will help.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Warm Water: If debris or minor obstructions are causing the problem, soaking the stuck zipper in warm water can help expand the fabric and loosen it the jam.
Pliers: Carefully using pliers to grip and gently wiggle the zipper pull can sometimes help release it from its stuck position.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Layers: Spread blueberry jam or lemon curd over the cake layers before topping with frosting for a fruity addition.
—Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
The pearl headbands may not be her jam today, but she’s got her eye on some fabulous headwear.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2024
Catcher Will Smith worsened the jam moments later, committing a catcher’s interference infraction to load the bases.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Hennessy Sepulveda, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
The path to the Vegas Sphere began in an incongruous place: the tie-dye-friendly campus of the University of Vermont, where Anastasio jammed with longtime bassist Mike Gordon and dress-wearing drummer Jon Fishman for the first time on Dec. 2, 1983, in a student dining hall.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Such disruptions are routinely caused by bad weather and heavy traffic in big-city hubs, but high demand for prime views of the phenomenon jammed some smaller airports on Monday.
—Maura Barrett, NBC News, 8 Apr. 2024
Hospitals jammed Long lines of residents of the Beecher District, where the twister struck north of Flint, sought State Police passes to return to the devastated area in search of loved ones and personal property.
—Jerome Hansen, Jack Schermerhorn, Ralph Nelson and Ken McCormick, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
In 2022 and 2023, EASA, warned about an increase in reports of GPS spoofing and jamming incidents taking place in areas surrounding Russia, including in Finland, around the Black Sea and in the Baltic Sea area, according to the Wall Street Journal.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 30 Mar. 2024
Hard-strumming her acoustic guitar, shaking her head forcefully and jamming with Johnstone, Carlile injected the song with a sinister edge.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
More than 1,600 aircraft, including civilian aircraft, experienced the interference — known as GPS jamming — in less than two days earlier this week, according to an open-source intelligence account that regularly tracks GPS interference.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 30 Mar. 2024
Most of the technologies are classified, but one solution is a signal called M-code, which Space Force says will resist jamming and perform better in war than civilian GPS.
—Chris Buckley, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
Blurring the lines between psychedelic rock, funk, soul and surf rock, the Texas trio’s mostly instrumental jams are best described as sonic comfort.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
If that’s not your jam, this protein comes in nearly 20 flavors that run the gamut from Rocky Road to Banana Cream.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 8 Apr. 2024
Served on a soft brioche buns with American-style cheese (which melts way better than cheddar) and creamy kewpie mayo, the burgers are ultra-tender, seasoned well and have a great char, and the onion jam and tasty sauces are delicious.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Perhaps this country-pop jam from Zolita will help.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Warm Water: If debris or minor obstructions are causing the problem, soaking the stuck zipper in warm water can help expand the fabric and loosen it the jam.
Pliers: Carefully using pliers to grip and gently wiggle the zipper pull can sometimes help release it from its stuck position.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Layers: Spread blueberry jam or lemon curd over the cake layers before topping with frosting for a fruity addition.
—Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
The pearl headbands may not be her jam today, but she’s got her eye on some fabulous headwear.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2024
Catcher Will Smith worsened the jam moments later, committing a catcher’s interference infraction to load the bases.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Verb
Nin remembers rushing to the music room after school where Cooper would often jam with students.
—Hennessy Sepulveda, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
The path to the Vegas Sphere began in an incongruous place: the tie-dye-friendly campus of the University of Vermont, where Anastasio jammed with longtime bassist Mike Gordon and dress-wearing drummer Jon Fishman for the first time on Dec. 2, 1983, in a student dining hall.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Such disruptions are routinely caused by bad weather and heavy traffic in big-city hubs, but high demand for prime views of the phenomenon jammed some smaller airports on Monday.
—Maura Barrett, NBC News, 8 Apr. 2024
Hospitals jammed Long lines of residents of the Beecher District, where the twister struck north of Flint, sought State Police passes to return to the devastated area in search of loved ones and personal property.
—Jerome Hansen, Jack Schermerhorn, Ralph Nelson and Ken McCormick, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
In 2022 and 2023, EASA, warned about an increase in reports of GPS spoofing and jamming incidents taking place in areas surrounding Russia, including in Finland, around the Black Sea and in the Baltic Sea area, according to the Wall Street Journal.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 30 Mar. 2024
Hard-strumming her acoustic guitar, shaking her head forcefully and jamming with Johnstone, Carlile injected the song with a sinister edge.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
More than 1,600 aircraft, including civilian aircraft, experienced the interference — known as GPS jamming — in less than two days earlier this week, according to an open-source intelligence account that regularly tracks GPS interference.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 30 Mar. 2024
Most of the technologies are classified, but one solution is a signal called M-code, which Space Force says will resist jamming and perform better in war than civilian GPS.
—Chris Buckley, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near jam
Cite this Entry
“Jam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jam. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jam
1 of 3 verb
jammed; jamming
1
a
: to press or push into a close or tight position
jam a book into a bookcase
b
: to be or cause to be wedged so as to be unworkable
jam the typewriter keys
c
: to crowd into : pack
2000 people jammed the hall
2
: to push suddenly and with force
jam on the brakes
3
: to squeeze or crush painfully
jammed my finger in the door
4
: to make impossible to understand by sending out interfering signals or messages
jam a radio broadcast
5
: to take part in a jam session
jammer
noun
jam
2 of 3 noun1
a
: an act or instance of jamming
b
: a crowded mass that slows or prevents movement
traffic jam
2
: a difficult state of affairs
jam
3 of 3 noun
: a food made of fruit and sugar thickened by boiling
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