1
: a quantity of paper being 20 quires or variously 480, 500, or 516 sheets
2
: a great amount
—usually used in plural
reams of information
reamed; reaming; reams
1
a
: to widen the opening of (a hole) : countersink
b(1)
: to enlarge, shape, or smooth out (a hole) with a reamer
(2)
: to enlarge the bore of (something, such as a gun) in this way
c
: to remove by reaming
2
a
: to press out with a reamer
b
: to press out the juice of (a fruit, such as an orange) with a reamer
4
: reprimand
—often used with out
reams out his players so severely—
Alexander Wolff
Alexander WolffExamples of ream in a Sentence
Noun
I have reams of paperwork to do before I can leave today
Verb
He got reamed in the press for his comments.
reamed a whole new generation of suckers with a variation of the Ponzi scheme
Recent Examples on the Web
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 July 2025
Charney is seen in action through reams of footage captured by employees and others in his orbit.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
After Tina reams him out for not going to see baby Sophie yet, Carmy calls Sugar to apologize for being a bad unc.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ream
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Noun
Facing a ream of questions about the future of MasterChef now that Wallace has been dismissed, Tim Davie threw his weight behind the BBC stalwart series, which is currently renewed up until 2028.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 July 2025
Charney is seen in action through reams of footage captured by employees and others in his orbit.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
Verb
But not before community members reamed the board for slashing jobs and reducing student services to dig the district out of a $3.9 million deficit.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
After Tina reams him out for not going to see baby Sophie yet, Carmy calls Sugar to apologize for being a bad unc.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ream
Cite this Entry
“Ream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ream. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ream
1 of 2 noun1
: a quantity of paper that may equal 480, 500, or 516 sheets
2
: a great amount
—usually used in plural
reams of notes
ream
2 of 2 verb
: to shape, make larger, or smooth out with a reamer
Etymology
Noun
Middle English reme "a quantity of paper," from early French reme (same meaning), from Arabic rizma, literally, "bundle"
Verb
probably from Old English rēman "to open up"
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