noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

ram

RAM

Ram (noun) means an adult male sheep. Example: “The farmer kept a single ram for breeding with the ewes.”

noun

An adult male sheep.

"The farmer kept a single ram for breeding with the ewes."

"The ram butted the fence post with its curled horns."

A heavy tool or device used to batter, force, or strike something, or the act of striking with such force.

"Firefighters used a battering ram to break down the door."

"The truck took a hard ram from the vehicle behind it."

verb

To crash into something forcefully, or to force something into place by pushing or pounding.

"The getaway car rammed straight through the barricade."

"She rammed the last box into the overstuffed suitcase."

How to use ram

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs a noun, a male sheep or a heavy battering tool; as a verb, to crash or force something into place hard.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with RAM the computer memory, which is an unrelated acronym (Random Access Memory).

Common pairings

ram a door ram into something battering ram

Word forms

more ram comparative, rammed past tense, rams plural, Rams plural, rams singular, most ram superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farmer kept a single _____ for breeding with the ewes.

Etymology

From Old English ramm, "male sheep" — a very old Germanic word, related to similar words in Dutch and German for the same animal.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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tup butt slam smash force cram

Related words

might power hit study force march energy press

Rhymes for ram

gram tram dram cram pram Bram scram

See all rhymes for ram →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ram” mean?

The word “ram” means an adult male sheep. In plain terms, as a noun, a male sheep or a heavy battering tool; as a verb, to crash or force something into place hard.

How do you pronounce “ram”?

“Ram” is pronounced RAM (/ˈɹeə̯m/ in IPA).

How do you use “ram” in a sentence?

Here is “ram” used in a sentence: “The farmer kept a single ram for breeding with the ewes.”

What part of speech is “ram”?

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

Where does the word “ram” come from?

The word “ram” comes from Old English. From Old English ramm, "male sheep" — a very old Germanic word, related to similar words in Dutch and German for the same animal.

Is “ram” a common word?

“Ram” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “ram” have?

“Ram” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an adult male sheep.

What is the difference between a 'ram' and a 'ewe'?

A ram is an adult male sheep, while a ewe is an adult female sheep. Rams are typically larger and, in many breeds, are the ones that grow curved horns.

What is the difference between a 'ram' and a 'lamb'?

A ram is an adult male sheep, whereas a lamb is a young sheep of either sex, usually under a year old. In short, 'ram' refers to sex and maturity, while 'lamb' refers to age.

Is the computer term 'RAM' related to the animal 'ram'?

No. In computing, 'RAM' is an acronym for Random Access Memory and is unrelated to the sheep or the battering meaning. They are spelled the same only by coincidence.

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Vocabulary lists that include ram:

3 letter words Words that end with M Words that start with R

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