WordGarden.ioslam
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /slˈæm/
US
- /ˈslæm/
Meanings
Verb
to hit, throw, or shut something with sudden violent force
to criticize someone or something very harshly, often in public
to score in basketball by forcefully putting the ball down through the hoop
Noun
a forceful hit, shut, or similar impact, often with a loud sound
a harsh public criticism or verbal takedown
a basketball shot made by forcefully putting the ball down through the hoop
More meaningsFewer meanings
a competitive spoken-word poetry event or performance
Beyond the definition
To slam something usually means to hit it or shut it with great force, like a door when you're angry or a book dropped hard onto a table. But "slam" is not only about physical action. It can also mean to criticize someone or something very strongly. In everyday speech, people also say a place is slammed when it is extremely busy or crowded. And in basketball, a "slam dunk" is a forceful shot made by putting the ball straight through the hoop.
The word "slam" is a strong, vivid word with several common uses. At its core, it means to hit or shut something with great force and often with a loud sound. You might slam a door in anger, slam a book down on a desk, or slam your hand on the table to make a point. In all of these cases, the idea is force, speed, and impact.
But "slam" also moves beyond physical action. It can mean to criticize someone or something very harshly and directly. A reviewer might slam a movie, a newspaper might say a politician was slammed for a bad decision, or a teacher might warn students not to slam someone online. In this sense, the word suggests a strong, blunt attack with words.
Another very common informal use appears in phrases like "The cafe is slammed" or "I got slammed at work today." Here, it means extremely busy, crowded, or overwhelmed by a lot of activity at once. The image is that the rush hits you hard. In basketball, "slam" appears in "slam dunk," which means putting the ball straight down through the hoop in a powerful way.
So whether it describes a door, a harsh review, a packed restaurant, or a basketball play, "slam" carries the feeling of force and intensity. It is a simple word, but it has a lot of energy.
Examples
- 1
Angry action
She slammed the door and left without saying goodbye.
- 2
Sudden closing
The kitchen window slammed shut when the wind got stronger.
- 3
Collision
A cyclist slammed into a parked car on the corner.
- 4
Sudden braking
I had to slam on the brakes when a child ran into the street.
- Phraseslam on the brakes
brake very suddenly and hard
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Public criticism
Several newspapers slammed the company for hiding the problem.
- Patternslam X for Y
criticize X very strongly because of Y
- 6
Online criticism
The actor was slammed online after the interview.
- Patternbe slammed
be strongly criticized
- 7
Busy workplace
We're completely slammed this morning, so service may be a little slow.
- 8
Likely success
With those numbers, the proposal looked like a slam dunk.
- Phrasea slam dunk
something very likely to succeed
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- slamnounverb
Forms
- slamspluralnounverb
- slammedpast tenseverbnoun
- slamming-ing formverbnoun