jam

22 synonyms for jam, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A sweet spread made by boiling fruit with sugar until it thickens.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

preserve fix mess hole pack block

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

jelly pickle crush ram jamming mob pile

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

marmalade predicament muddle impede obturate obstruct occlude jampack cram

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A sweet spread made by boiling fruit with sugar until it thickens.

“Mum makes plum jam every autumn and stores it in glass jars.”

jelly preserve marmalade predicament fix pickle mess muddle crush ram jamming hole

2. verb

To wedge something tightly so it can no longer move.

“He jammed a folded card under the wobbly table leg.”

impede ram obturate mob obstruct occlude jampack cram pack crush block pile

How to use jam

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

strawberry jam traffic jam jam session jam the signal

Etymology

First recorded in the early 1700s as a verb meaning "to press or wedge in," likely echoing the sound and action of squeezing something into a tight spot; the "improvised music" sense grew out of jazz slang from the 1920s.

Full origin of jam →

Frequently asked questions

What does “jam” mean?

The word “jam” means a sweet spread made by boiling fruit with sugar until it thickens. In plain terms, can mean the fruit spread you eat, a tight spot you're stuck in, a traffic pileup, or musicians playing together informally.

How do you pronounce “jam”?

“Jam” is pronounced JAM (/ˈd͡ʒæm/ in IPA).

How do you use “jam” in a sentence?

Here is “jam” used in a sentence: “She spread strawberry jam thickly over her toast.”

What is another word for “jam”?

Words with a similar meaning to “jam” include ram.

What part of speech is “jam”?

Depending on how it is used, “jam” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “jam” come from?

The word “jam” dates back to around 1700.

Is “jam” a common word?

“Jam” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “jam” have?

“Jam” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sweet spread made by boiling fruit with sugar until it thickens.

What is the difference between "jam" and "jelly"?

Jam is made by boiling crushed or chopped fruit with sugar, so it contains fruit pieces and has a thicker, chunkier texture. Jelly is made from strained fruit juice, giving it a clear, smooth, and firmer set without pieces of fruit.

What is the difference between "jam" and "marmalade"?

Jam can be made from many kinds of fruit, while marmalade is traditionally made from citrus fruit and includes the peel. This gives marmalade its characteristic slightly bitter taste and shreds of rind.

What is the difference between "jam" and "preserves"?

Jam is cooked until the fruit breaks down into a thick, spreadable mixture. Preserves keep larger pieces or whole small fruits suspended in syrup or gel, so they have a chunkier texture than most jams.

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block fix hole pack mess preserve crush ram pile mob jelly pickle

Nearby words

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