jam
JAM
Jam (noun) means a sweet spread made by boiling fruit with sugar until it thickens. Example: “Mum makes plum jam every autumn and stores it in glass jars.”
noun
1
A sweet spread made by boiling fruit with sugar until it thickens.
"Mum makes plum jam every autumn and stores it in glass jars."
"Do you prefer butter or jam on your scones?"
"She spread strawberry jam thickly over her toast."
2
A difficult or awkward situation.
"Our car broke down on the motorway, and we were in a proper jam."
"She helped her friend out of a jam by lending him some money."
"Losing his wallet at the airport put him in a real jam."
3
A blockage or pileup, such as heavy traffic.
"A lorry shed its load, causing a huge jam on the bridge."
"Commuters grumbled about the morning jam outside the town centre."
"We sat in a traffic jam for over an hour."
4
An informal, spontaneous session of playing music together.
"After the concert, the musicians stayed behind for an impromptu jam."
"Anyone with a guitar is welcome at the open jam in the pub."
"The band held a late-night jam in the garage."
verb
1
To wedge something tightly so it can no longer move.
"He jammed a folded card under the wobbly table leg."
"The drawer was jammed shut with old papers stuffed behind it."
"A pebble jammed the lock and the key wouldn't turn."
2
To play music informally and improvise with others.
"Every Friday we jam in my brother's shed with whatever instruments we have."
"The pianist loved to jam with strangers at the little cafe."
"They jammed together for hours after the show ended."
How to use jam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan mean the fruit spread you eat, a tight spot you're stuck in, a traffic pileup, or musicians playing together informally.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "jelly," which is a similar fruit spread but made without the fruit pulp.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
strawberry jam
traffic jam
jam session
jam the signal
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Word forms
- Plural
- jams
- Third person singular
- jams
- Past tense
- jammed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Mum makes plum _____ every autumn and stores it in glass jars.
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.
Class of 1700
jam joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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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