ram

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɹæm/ UK /ɹæm/ See IPA manual

Freq #4350

Meanings

1

verb
To crash into something hard and on purpose, usually to damage it.

The truck rammed the gate at full speed.
2

verb
To push or force something firmly into a tight space.

He rammed the posts deep into the ground to build the fence.
3

noun
A heavy object swung or driven to break through a door or wall.

The soldiers used a heavy ram to smash through the castle door.
4

noun
A male sheep.

The farmer kept one ram with the flock of ewes.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to crash into something... pound

2 verb · to push or force something... drive

Word family

Forms rammedrammingrams

Derived forms overramram-catram-jamram-likeram-packram-packedramhoodramjetramlikeramlinerammablerammer

Related forms ewe hogshearlingteg wether

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

hydraulic ram
a pump that uses flowing water to lift part of that water to a higher level

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English ram, rom, ramme, from Old English ramm (“ram”), from Proto-Germanic *rammaz (“ram”), possibly from *rammaz (“strong”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Rom (“ram”), Dutch ram (“a male sheep”), German Ramm, Ramme (“ram”). Possibly akin also to Danish ram (“sharp; acrid; rank”), Swedish ram (“strong; perfect”), Faroese ramur (“strong; competent”), Icelandic rammur (“strong; sturdy”).

ram Middle English ramm Old English *rammaz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# ram

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ɹæm/
**IPA (UK):** /ɹæm/
**Frequency rank:** 4350

## Meanings
1. To crash into something hard and on purpose, usually to damage it.
2. To push or force something firmly into a tight space.
3. A heavy object swung or driven to break through a door or wall.
4. A male sheep.

## Examples
- The truck rammed the gate at full speed.
- He rammed the posts deep into the ground to build the fence.
- The soldiers used a heavy ram to smash through the castle door.
- The farmer kept one ram with the flock of ewes.

## Derived Forms
- overram
- ram-cat
- ram-jam
- ram-like
- ram-pack
- ram-packed
- ramhood
- ramjet
- ramlike
- ramline
- rammable
- rammer

## Related Forms
- ewe
- hog
- shearling
- teg
- wether

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ram
- Root: ramm
- Root: *rammaz

## Etymology
From Middle English ram, rom, ramme, from Old English ramm (“ram”), from Proto-Germanic *rammaz (“ram”), possibly from *rammaz (“strong”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Rom (“ram”), Dutch ram (“a male sheep”), German Ramm, Ramme (“ram”). Possibly akin also to Danish ram (“sharp; acrid; rank”), Swedish ram (“strong; perfect”), Faroese ramur (“strong; competent”), Icelandic rammur (“strong; sturdy”).

## AI Etymology
Ram comes from Middle English ram, rom, ramme, from Old English ramm (“ram”), from Proto-Germanic *rammaz (“ram”), possibly from *rammaz (“strong”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Rom (“ram”), Dutch ram (“a male sheep”), German Ramm, Ramme (“ram”). Possibly akin also to Danish ram (“sharp; acrid; rank”), Swedish ram (“strong; perfect”), Faroese ramur (“strong; competent”), Icelandic rammur (“strong; sturdy”). Modern senses include to crash into something hard and on purpose, usually to damage it. and to push or force something firmly into a tight space.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as overram, ram-cat, ram-jam, ram-like, ram-pack, and ram-packed and related forms such as ewe, hog, shearling, and teg.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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ram