jam
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈjam 
: a food made by boiling fruit and sugar to a thick consistency
jammy
ˈja-mē
adjective jam
2 of 4verb
jammed; jamming
intransitive verb
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
transitive verb
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
jammer
ˈja-mər
noun jam
3 of 4noun (2)
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
: jam session
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 PattersonJam
4 of 4abbreviation
Jamaica
Synonyms
Verb
- cram
- crowd
- crush
- ram
- sandwich
- shoehorn
- squeeze
- stuff
- wedge
Noun (2)
- backup
- bottleneck
- jam-up
- logjam
- snarl
- tailback [British]
- tie-up
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
probably from jam entry 2
Verb and Noun (2)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun (1)
circa 1736, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1706, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Phrases Containing jam
Kids Definition
jam 1 of 3
verb
ˈjam
jammed; jamming
1
: to crowd, squeeze, or wedge into a tight position
Fans jammed the auditorium.
2
: to put into action hard or suddenly
He jammed his hands into his pockets.
She jammed on the brakes.
3
: to hurt by pressure
I jammed a finger in the car door.
4
: to be or cause to be stuck or unable to work because a part is wedged tight
Paper jammed the copier.
5
: to cause interference in (radio or television signals)
jam
2 of 3noun
: a food made by boiling fruit with sugar until it is thick
jam
3 of 3noun
1
: a crowded mass of people or things that blocks something
a traffic jam
2
: a difficult situation I got myself into a jam.
jam 1 of 2
noun
1
as in jam-up
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement thousands of cars trying to leave the stadium's parking lot at the same time are sure to create a jam Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- jam-up
- snarl
- congestion
- bottleneck
- tailback
- lock
- traffic
- tangle
- delay
- backup
- gridlock
- logjam
- stoppage
- crawl
- slowdown
- tie-up
2
as in pickle
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape the heavy rain puts us in a real jam: all of the preparations are for a garden wedding Synonyms & Similar Words
- pickle
- dilemma
- predicament
- hole
- swamp
- bind
- box
- corner
- spot
- fix
- quagmire
- impasse
- sticky wicket
- rabbit hole
- jackpot
- mire
- difficulty
- soup
- crisis
- rattrap
- kettle of fish
- hot water
- trouble
- catch-22
- emergency
- pinch
- deadlock
- plight
- halt
- scrape
- node
- standstill
- logjam
- clutch
- quandary
- strait
- crossroad
- exigency
- stalemate
- juncture
jam
2 of 2verb
1
as in to stuff
to fit (people or things) into a tight space jammed his clothes into the already bulging hamper Synonyms & Similar Words
- stuff
- squeeze
- sandwich
- cram
- load
- wedge
- ram
- pack
- crowd
- shoehorn
- crush
- fill
- heap
- jam-pack
2
as in to block
to prevent passage through by filling with something firefighters found the nightclub's doorways jammed with trapped patrons Synonyms & Similar Words
- block
- stuff
- obstruct
- choke
- clog
- congest
- flood
- fill
- dam
- clot
- occlude
- pack
- cork
- bung
- gridlock
- stopper
- stopple
- gum (up)
- swamp
- glut
- silt
- plug (up)
- spile
- stop (up)
- fur
- overwhelm
- inundate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- free
- open (up)
- unplug
- clear
- hollow (out)
- unclog
- unstop
- excavate
- unblock
- empty
- lighten
- scoop (out)
3
as in to load
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained the inn will jam a guest's picnic basket with an array of tempting foods Synonyms & Similar Words
- stuff
- load
- pack
- fill
- cram
- refill
- flood
- brim
- heap
- jam-pack
- glut
- swamp
- reload
- squash
- squeeze
- bulk
- drench
- shove
- charge
- ram
- overflow
- honeycomb
- replenish
- crowd
- penetrate
- press
- mat
- bloat
- crush
- saturate
- repack
- overfill
- refresh
- overcharge
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- evacuate
- empty
- void
- clear
- vacate
- eliminate
- draw (off)
- drain
- lighten
- clean
- exhaust
- bleed
- sweep
- flush
- deplete
- purge
- scour
4
as in to push
to force one's way several more people jammed into the bus even though there was hardly room to stand Synonyms & Similar Words
- push
- squeeze
- press
- elbow
- crash
- shove
- bull
- muscle
- shoulder
- jostle
- thrust
- bore
- ram
- bulldoze