Slam
/slæm/
verbnounB1
Definition
Slam means to shut a door, window, or object very hard and fast, making a loud noise. It can also mean to criticize someone or something in a strong and direct way. As a noun, slam is the sound made by this action or a strong criticism.
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See It in Action
To close or hit something forcefully and loudly
- •He slammed the door after the argument.
- •She slammed the book shut and walked away.
- •The wind slammed the windows during the storm.
To criticize strongly or attack verbally
- •The movie was slammed by many critics for its bad acting.
- •He slammed the new policy as unfair and harmful.
The loud noise made by slamming
- •I heard a slam from the other room.
- •The slam of the door scared the dog.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "slam" like "close," but with a strong push that makes a loud noise.
- ✓Picture a heavy door closing so fast it makes a loud "BANG" sound that you can hear clearly.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone is angry and closes a door hard to show their emotion.
- ✓Sounds like "slam" → imagine a big hammer hitting a door quickly and loudly.
- ✓In stories or movies, when a character is upset, they often slam a door to show they are angry or upset.
- ✓NOT like "close" (gentle, quiet), slam is loud and forceful.
- ✓NOT like "shut" (can be soft), slam always means a strong, noisy action.
- ✓NOT like "whisper" (quiet), slam is very loud and attention-getting.
Try Other Words
- •Shut: to close something (Use when the action is quiet or gentle)
- •Bang: to hit loudly (Use when emphasizing the loud noise, often as a noun)
- •Crash: to hit or fall with a loud noise (Use when something breaks or falls down, more violent than slam)
- •Bash: to hit hard (Use when the action is very strong and sometimes damaging)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No prefix or suffix; root word "slam"
- •Etymology: Originates from Old English or Middle English, related to sudden, forceful hitting or closing
- •Historical development: Used since at least the 1500s to describe loud closing or hitting actions
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe doors, windows, and also strong criticism or attacks in speech
Reflect & Connect
•When is it okay to slam a door, and when is it considered rude or disrespectful?
•How does the sound of a slam change the atmosphere in a room or story?
Fill in the blanks
1.He slammed the door so hard that the ___ echoed through the house.
2.When she was angry, she often slammed ___ instead of speaking calmly.
3.The coach slammed the team's performance because they ___ many mistakes.
4.Unlike a quiet close, to slam a door means to close it with ___ and noise.
5.The loud slam made everyone in the room ___ and look toward the door.
6.After the argument, he slammed his book ___ and left the room.
7.Critics slammed the movie for its ___ acting and weak story.