: 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.
Noun (2)
thousands of cars trying to leave the stadium's parking lot at the same time are sure to create a jam
the heavy rain puts us in a real jam: all of the preparations are for a garden wedding
Recent Examples on the WebAlyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
With runners on first and third in the second inning and one out, Piedmont executed a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the jam.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 18 May 2024
SpaceX had pushed for Starlink’s approval in Argentina since 2022, but faced a bureaucratic jam.
—Alex Travelli, New York Times, 12 May 2024
How did Redstone and Paramount get into such a jam?
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
Bedding plants, meat, flowers, produce, fruits, baked goods, jams, honey, soaps, eggs, herbs, craft and more.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 7 May 2024
There are boxes of organic cereal varieties, as well as nostalgic options by Post and Kellogg’s and organic nut butters and jams.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 1 May 2024
Yet even now nothing sounds quite like the Pixies’ most enduring tune: a haunted psychedelic-soul jam in which the ultra-reverbed backing vocals conjure the terrifying underwater expanse that singer Black Francis describes in his lyric.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
Vegetables, fruits, baked goods, organic coffee, meats, jams, jellies, eggs, honey, BBQ sauce and rub, crafts and more.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 7 May 2024
David Koenig, Fortune, 23 May 2024
And the Pauli exclusion principle famously says that there’s, in fact, a quantum pressure associated with trying to jam electrons together.
—Quanta Magazine, 9 May 2024
The incident, which was captured on a livestream, showed Polite getting tackled from behind by a church deacon after his handgun jammed.
—Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 7 May 2024
The ancient alien and his latest companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), embark on a vibrant season jammed with all the magical elements that have made the show a British television staple for 60 years.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 May 2024
The preacher said the gun jammed when the suspect walked up to him and pulled the trigger at Jesus' Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 6 May 2024
The attacks can jam or spoof GPS signals, and can result in serious navigation issues.
—Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 4 May 2024
At 5:30, younger Gen X-ers and older millennials jammed the area around the second stage to rock out with Dashboard Confessional.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024
Within a few months of 3D forming his drone army, the junta started using jamming technology from China and Russia to scramble the GPS signals that guide drones to their targets.
—Paul Mozur Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 4 May 2024
Noun
If sandals aren’t your jam, but breathability still is, mesh flats, à la these from Open Edit, are similar to the shoes Jennifer Lawrence is all about.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
With runners on first and third in the second inning and one out, Piedmont executed a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the jam.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 18 May 2024
SpaceX had pushed for Starlink’s approval in Argentina since 2022, but faced a bureaucratic jam.
—Alex Travelli, New York Times, 12 May 2024
How did Redstone and Paramount get into such a jam?
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
Bedding plants, meat, flowers, produce, fruits, baked goods, jams, honey, soaps, eggs, herbs, craft and more.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 7 May 2024
There are boxes of organic cereal varieties, as well as nostalgic options by Post and Kellogg’s and organic nut butters and jams.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 1 May 2024
Yet even now nothing sounds quite like the Pixies’ most enduring tune: a haunted psychedelic-soul jam in which the ultra-reverbed backing vocals conjure the terrifying underwater expanse that singer Black Francis describes in his lyric.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
Vegetables, fruits, baked goods, organic coffee, meats, jams, jellies, eggs, honey, BBQ sauce and rub, crafts and more.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 7 May 2024
Verb
Highways and airports are likely to be jammed the next few days as Americans head out for Memorial Day weekend getaways and then return home.
—David Koenig, Fortune, 23 May 2024
And the Pauli exclusion principle famously says that there’s, in fact, a quantum pressure associated with trying to jam electrons together.
—Quanta Magazine, 9 May 2024
The incident, which was captured on a livestream, showed Polite getting tackled from behind by a church deacon after his handgun jammed.
—Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 7 May 2024
The ancient alien and his latest companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), embark on a vibrant season jammed with all the magical elements that have made the show a British television staple for 60 years.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 May 2024
The preacher said the gun jammed when the suspect walked up to him and pulled the trigger at Jesus' Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 6 May 2024
The attacks can jam or spoof GPS signals, and can result in serious navigation issues.
—Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 4 May 2024
At 5:30, younger Gen X-ers and older millennials jammed the area around the second stage to rock out with Dashboard Confessional.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024
Within a few months of 3D forming his drone army, the junta started using jamming technology from China and Russia to scramble the GPS signals that guide drones to their targets.
—Paul Mozur Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 4 May 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 28 May. 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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