1
a
: a barrier preventing the flow of water or of loose solid materials (such as soil or snow)
a beaver dam
an ice dam
especially, civil engineering
: a barrier built across a watercourse for impounding (see impound sense 2) water
b
: a barrier to check the flow of liquid, gas, or air
2
: a body of water confined by a barrier
dammed; damming
1
: to provide or restrain with a barrier that prevents the flow of water : to provide or restrain with a dam (see dam entry 1 sense 1a)
dam a river
2
: to stop up : block
damming up their emotions
zoology
: the female parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal
the foal's dam
dekameter
Synonyms
Examples of dam in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the river backed up behind the dam until it formed a new lake
Verb
ice floes were damming the river
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Why should California’s taxpayers help Buffett get rid of dams that probably could not be relicensed anyway?
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Thomas N. Thompson, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2013
The debris flows formed from volcanic debris melting part of a glacier ended up damming the Chakachatna River, briefly creating a new lake along the river valley.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dam 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The historic bridge becomes visible when the lake level drops to 1,392 feet, and the full bridge deck is exposed at 1,384 feet, according to Andrew Byrne, public affairs specialist for the Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees the lake and dam, who spoke to TRIB Live.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Why should California’s taxpayers help Buffett get rid of dams that probably could not be relicensed anyway?
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
The country has dammed every major river on the Tibetan plateau, including the Mekong, the Salween, the Brahmaputra, the Yangtze, the Yellow, the Indus, the Sutlej, the Shweli, and the Karnali, and there are large-scale plans to dam others.
—Thomas N. Thompson, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2013
The debris flows formed from volcanic debris melting part of a glacier ended up damming the Chakachatna River, briefly creating a new lake along the river valley.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dam
Dictionary Entries Near dam
Cite this Entry
“Dam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dam. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dam
1 of 3 noun
: the female parent especially of a domestic animal
dam
2 of 3 noun1
: a barrier preventing the flow of water
2
: a body of water held back by a dam
dam
3 of 3 verb
dammed; damming
1
: to provide or restrain with a dam
dam a stream
2
: to stop up : block
dammed-up feelings
Etymology
Noun
Middle English dam, dame "lady, female parent"
Noun
Middle English dam "barrier to hold back water"
Medical Definition
dam
1 of 3 noun
: a female parent
—used especially of a domestic animal
dam
2 of 3 noun
: rubber dam see dental dam
dam
3 of 3 abbreviation
dekameter
Biographical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share