Ram
/ræm/
nounverbB1
Definition
As a noun, "ram" is a male sheep, especially an adult one with horns. As a verb, "ram" means to hit or push something very hard, often suddenly or with force. It can describe physical hitting or pushing, like a car ramming into a wall or a battering ram used to break doors.
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See It in Action
Male sheep (noun)
- •The ram led the flock up the hill.
- •Rams often use their horns to fight during mating season.
- •The farmer has several rams for breeding.
To hit or push something with force (verb)
- •The car rammed into the tree during the storm.
- •The battering ram was used to break down the door.
- •He rammed his shoulder into the wall to test its strength.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ram" like "sheep" (A1 word) when it is a male sheep, but stronger and often with big horns
- ✓Picture a strong sheep with big curved horns pushing or hitting something hard
- ✓It’s the feeling of a hard, sudden push or hit—like when you bump into someone by accident but stronger
- ✓Sounds like "ram" → imagine a "RAMming" truck pushing through a barrier
- ✓Remember stories or cartoons where a ram butts (hits) a gate to break it open
- ✓NOT like "push" (gentle or slow), "ram" is a strong, fast, and forceful hit or push
- ✓NOT like "hit" (can be light), "ram" means to hit with power and often to break or move something
- ✓As a noun, NOT like "lamb" (young sheep), "ram" is a mature male sheep, usually bigger and stronger
Try Other Words
- •Push: to move something by force but usually slower or gentler (Use when the force is less strong)
- •Strike: to hit something (Use when focusing on the act of hitting, not necessarily with force)
- •Butt: to hit with the head or horns (Use especially for animals hitting with their heads)
- •Batter: to hit many times with force (Use when hitting repeatedly)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: single root word "ram"
- •Etymology: Old English "ramm," meaning male sheep; also related to Old Norse and Germanic words for male sheep or to strike
- •Historical development: Used for male sheep for centuries; verb form developed from the noun, meaning to hit with the head as a ram sheep does
- •Modern usage: Common in farming for male sheep; also used in everyday English to describe forceful hitting or pushing
Reflect & Connect
•How does knowing the animal "ram" help you understand the verb "ram" better?
•Can you think of situations where "ram" as a verb is used in a safe or playful way, not just to cause damage?
Fill in the blanks
1.The ram used its ___ to push the other sheep away during the fight.
2.When the car ___ the barrier, it caused a loud noise and damage.
3.Unlike a gentle push, to ram something means to use ___ force suddenly.
4.The battering ___ helped the soldiers break the heavy door.
5.The farmer keeps several rams because they are important for ___ new lambs.
6.He accidentally ___ his foot against the table leg and felt pain.
7.A ram ___ into the fence to get to the other side quickly.