yam

noun

ˈyam 

1

: the edible starchy tuberous root of various plants (genus Dioscorea of the family Dioscoreaceae) used as a staple food in tropical areas

also : a plant producing yams

2

: a moist usually orange-fleshed sweet potato

Examples of yam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At Hikari, the chefs include yams and a paste made of scallops, which imbue a slight sweetness and umami to the egg dish. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026

Ube is enjoying a purple reign in the US Global demand for the Filipino purple yam known as ube is surging, but meeting that appetite is proving a challenge for producers in the Philippines. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026

Set in 11th-century Singapore, the film follows a demigod born from a yam root, abandoned by his worshippers after the arrival of a mysterious, shipwrecked beast. —Marcus Lim, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026

Set in 11th-century Singapore, the story revolves around a demigod born from a yam who is ritually fed upon by villagers. —Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier iname, from Portuguese inhame & Spanish ñame, of African origin; akin to Fulani nyami to eat

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for yam

• am
• bam
• cham
• clam
• damme
• damn
• dram
• flam
• fram
• gram
• ham
• jam

Kids Definition

yam

noun

ˈyam 

1

: an edible starchy root that is an important food in tropical areas

also : a plant producing yams

2

: a sweet potato with moist usually orange flesh