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to slam

to slam

323 2.3
To close or hit something with great force and make a loud noise
  • verb
  • /slæm/
translation icon : cerrar de golpe
  • Please don't slam the door when you leave; it makes a lot of noise.
  • slam the door
  • slam shut
  • slam on the brakes

He hears cars stop, doors slam, dogs bark.

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Examples

  • My kid slammed the seat on his thing again.

  • N2: When Will shows up at Ronnie's house that afternoon, she slams the door in his face.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Fine, I can slam doors.

  • You slam the door on me?

  • - Hey, don't slam the door.

  • The boy gave him another furious wet look and slammed the door on his way out.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • He hears cars stop, doors slam, dogs bark.

  • Pushing the priest aside, Andrew slammed the door open and stepped into the room.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Hurricane Andrew, one of the strongest on record, slammed into Florida in 1992.

    Academic text (2011)
  • "Timmy!" He jumped back in and slammed the door, the sound lost in the thunderclap.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to hit
vsto slam
1.0

To strike someone or something with force

is the more violent and noisy form that includes closing or throwing actions
to strike
vsto slam
553 2.4

To hit someone or something with force

is the broader violent action that also covers closing and throwing objects loudly
to slap
vsto slam
492 1.0

Hit quickly with the flat part of the hand

is generally stronger and louder than a quick, flat-handed strike
to punch
vsto slam
455 1.4

To hit someone or something quickly with a closed fist

is a general violent action not limited to a human fist or person
to bang
vsto slam
318 1.0

To hit or close something suddenly and loudly

is stronger and often implies violent closure or forceful throwing
to pound
vsto slam
225 1.3

To hit something again and again very hard

is a single forceful act rather than repeated battering over time
to hammer
vsto slam
198 1.6

To hit something many times to shape or flatten it

is a one-off violent action, not a repeated shaping or fixing process
to crash
vsto slam
71 2.4

To make a sudden loud noise by hitting or falling

is the deliberate act of closing, hitting, or throwing, not only the noisy result
to slam the door
vsto slam
  • Informal
56 2.4

Close a door loudly and hard when angry or impatient

is the general violent action used for many objects not only doors
to blast
vsto slam
45 3.5

To hit or shoot something with great force

is more general, applying to violent closure or throwing beyond sports use
to catapult
vsto slam
28 5.1

To throw or send something suddenly with great force

is the general violent action that also covers hitting and noisy closing
to thump
vsto slam
27 3.4

To hit something hard so it makes a dull sound

is louder and more explosive, often with sharp noisy impact rather than dull
to slam shut
vsto slam
  • Informal
17 2.7

To close a door or window quickly and hard so it makes a loud noise

is the shorter general verb covering closing, hitting, or throwing
to slam down
vsto slam
  • Informal
14 6.0

Put something down hard so it makes a loud noise or quickly drink something

is the general forceful action that does not focus on placing objects
to rap
vsto slam
8 3.7

To hit something quickly to make a short sharp sound

is the stronger, louder action rather than just quick sharp contact
to wallop
vsto slam
  • Informal
2 7.3

To hit something or someone very hard

is broader, also covering violent closing or throwing, not only direct hard hits
to swack
vsto slam
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To hit someone or something hard

is the broader violent verb that often includes noisy closing or throwing
to whap
vsto slam
1 8.1

To hit something or someone hard and make a loud sound

is the general forceful action but with more emphasis on noise than closure
to knock about
vsto slam
  • UK
1 6.3

To hit something hard so it moves or gets damaged

is the single forceful closure or throw, not continual rough handling
to give a whap
vsto slam
  • Informal
8.8

To hit something quickly with a short, sharp blow

is the broader violent action that includes closing or throwing too
to whang
vsto slam
  • Informal
9.9

To hit something hard so it makes a loud sound

is the general forceful act but may focus more on attack than closing
to cannon
vsto slam
5.3

To move quickly and hit something hard

is more about delivering force to an object rather than just crashing into it
to spang
vsto slam
9.9

To hit and bounce off with a sharp sound

is mainly about forceful closing, hitting, or throwing, not ricocheting

Antonyms

1.0

To make something not closed so you can get in

Idioms

slam-bang
  • Informal
8.6

In a sudden, loud, and forceful way

Phrasal Verbs

to slam the door
  • Informal
56 2.4

Close a door loudly and hard when angry or impatient

to slam shut
  • Informal
17 2.7

To close a door or window quickly and hard so it makes a loud noise

to slam down
  • Informal
14 6.0

Put something down hard so it makes a loud noise or quickly drink something

6 3.2

To press the foot pedal hard to stop a car suddenly

to slam dance
  • Jargon
1 8.7

To dance by bumping into other people on purpose, often at punk shows

Compounds

slam dunk
  • Informal
30 3.0

An action or result that is sure to succeed

grand slam
  • Jargon
4 6.6

Winning every trick in one hand of bridge

3 3.4

A strong shot where a player jumps and puts the ball through the hoop with one or both hands

slam on
  • Informal
1 8.2

A strong attack in words on a person or group

slam against
  • Offensive
1 7.9

A strong criticism that attacks a person or idea

little slam
  • Jargon
8.9

A bridge contract that wins twelve of the thirteen tricks

4.1

A very loud forceful closing of a door or window

slam dance
  • Jargon
8.8

A style of dancing where people bump into each other on purpose, usually at punk shows

slam dancing
  • Informal
8.4

A style of dancing where people push and bump into each other to loud music

slam-bang
  • Informal
8.1

Full of sudden, loud action and fast movement

small slam
  • Jargon
9.2

A bridge result when players win all but one trick in a hand

How Forceful

to smash
311 2.1
to slam
323 2.3
shove
31 2.7
push
138 1.0
to nudge
33 3.8

Surface Forms

slam infinitive
slammed past
slammed past participle
slamming present participle
slams third person singular

Etymology

Slam as a verb comes from that same sound and idea of a hard hit; think of slamming a book down or a door shut with force. So to slam something is to close, hit, or throw it very hard and make a loud noise.