lam

16 synonyms for lam, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To hit or beat someone hard.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

run escape

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

bunk getaway

Rare, literary or technical

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

thrash scat flail thresh scarper run away turn tail break away hightail it fly the coop take to the woods head for the hills

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To hit or beat someone hard.

“He threatened to lam anyone who touched his bike.”

run escape bunk getaway thrash scat flail thresh scarper run away turn tail break away hightail it fly the coop take to the woods head for the hills

2. noun

An escape or flight, especially from custody or the law — chiefly in the phrase "on the lam."

“He'd been on the lam for six months before they caught him.”

getaway

How to use lam

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

on the lam lam out of here

Etymology

From Middle English lamen/lemen, going back to Old English and Old Norse roots meaning "to make lame" — the "beat" sense came first, and "flee" grew out of underworld slang in the early 1900s.

Full origin of lam →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lam” mean?

The word “lam” means to hit or beat someone hard. In plain terms, either to hit someone hard, or to make a run for it — most commonly heard today in the phrase "on the lam," meaning hiding from the law.

How do you pronounce “lam”?

“Lam” is pronounced lam (/læm/ in IPA).

How do you use “lam” in a sentence?

Here is “lam” used in a sentence: “He threatened to lam anyone who touched his bike.”

What part of speech is “lam”?

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

Where does the word “lam” come from?

The word “lam” dates back to around 1900 and comes from Old English. From Middle English lamen/lemen, going back to Old English and Old Norse roots meaning "to make lame" — the "beat" sense came first, and "flee" grew out of underworld slang in the early 1900s.

Is “lam” a common word?

“Lam” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “lam” have?

“Lam” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hit or beat someone hard.

People also searched

run escape bunk getaway thrash scat flail scarper thresh

Nearby words

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