: sudden or hurried flight especially from the law
on the lam
Lamentations
Synonyms
Examples of lam in a Sentence
Verb
let's lam out of this hellhole while there's still time
Noun
the prisoners were recaptured after only three days on the lam
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Lawrence, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024
One of those classic films that’s as good as its reputation (and maybe even better), Billy Wilder’s high-spirited comedy stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as jazz musicians who have to lam it after witnessing a mob crime.
—Keith Phipps, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2023
Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2024
Despicable Me 4 centers on Gru (Carell) and his family — including newest addition, Gru Jr. — going on the lam after a threat from the villainous Maxime Le Mal (Ferrell).
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for lam 
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.
Verb
No studio would finance the feature, about a whorehouse exhibitionist who lams it after being framed for murder — so director Melvin Van Peebles financed it himself with a boost from Bill Cosby, who gave him a $50,000 loan.
—Andrew Lawrence, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024
One of those classic films that’s as good as its reputation (and maybe even better), Billy Wilder’s high-spirited comedy stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as jazz musicians who have to lam it after witnessing a mob crime.
—Keith Phipps, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2023
Noun
Consider, when admiring the timepiece pictured above, that the debut model of this collectors’ darling was introduced to the world the same year that Friends aired for the first time, Oasis dropped Definitely Maybe, and O.J. Simpson went on the lam in the back of a white Ford Bronco.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2024
Despicable Me 4 centers on Gru (Carell) and his family — including newest addition, Gru Jr. — going on the lam after a threat from the villainous Maxime Le Mal (Ferrell).
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for lam
Dictionary Entries Near lam
Cite this Entry
“Lam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lam. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lam
2 of 2 noun
: a sudden or hurried flight especially from the law
on the lam
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share