wham

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A forceful blow.

   • Roger was given a violent wham by his boxing opponent.
   • Might be a good idea to have a wham at it, anyway. Stop it getting away. Knock it out so that we can have a proper look at it.
2. 2

   The sound of such a blow

   The sound of such a blow; a thud.

   • We heard a wham as the hammer struck the wall.
3. 3

   An attempt.

4. ›+ 7 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A great success.

   2. 5

      Used to indicate the sound of a forceful blow, an explosion, etc.

      • Wham! The truck hit the wall.
      • "Come here, kid, I got something for you." Then wham and he lit on his hands and knees beside the track. Nick rubbed his eye. There was a big bump coming up.
   3. 6

      Used to indicate something dramatic, sudden, and unanticipated has occurred.

      • Our relationship was going smoothly and then wham! Out of nowhere he told me he was leaving me for another woman.
      • Wham! Overnight he [Dwight D. Eisenhower] became a warmonger.
      • In myself I've come to notice that aging comes in spurts. […] I'll look the exact same way for a decade, and then—wham!—God hits the progeria switch and for two years the downhill plunge begins anew. And then it stops again.
   4. 7

      To smash or strike (someone or something) with great force or impact

      To smash or strike (someone or something) with great force or impact; to slam, to whack.

      • My Wobblie worker buddies taught me to wham anybody who bothered me hard and fast in the crotch with my knee or my elbow.
   5. 8

      To propel (something) with great force by kicking, striking, throwing, etc.

   6. 9

      To smash or strike with great force or impact.

      • She takes her foot off the skateboard. It keeps going without her and whams into the garage door.
   7. 10

      To move quickly or loudly.

The neighborhood

• neighborwhim-wham