Wham: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ’ฅ
Add to dictionary

wham

 

[ wรฆm ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

sound impact

To wham means to strike or hit something with a loud noise. It suggests a strong and forceful action, often resulting in a sudden impact. The term can also imply a sense of surprise or excitement, particularly in the context of a quick and powerful occurrence. Wham can be used both literally, to describe physical actions, or figuratively, to indicate a sudden event.

Synonyms

bang, hit, smash, strike.

Examples of usage

  • He whammed the door shut.
  • The car whammed into the barrier.
  • She whammed her fist on the table.
  • Lightning whammed down just behind the house.
Context #2 | Noun

sound effect

Wham as a noun refers to a loud explosive noise or impact. It is often used in comic books and movies to denote action scenes, emphasizing the dramatic effect of a blow or collision. The term embodies a sense of energy and intensity, capturing the viewer's attention in dynamic moments.

Synonyms

bang, boom, crash, thud.

Examples of usage

  • The wham of the explosion was heard for miles.
  • With a wham, the superhero punched the villain.
  • There was a wham as the ball hit the bat.
  • He felt the wham of the wind against his face.

Translations

Translations of the word "wham" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น pancada

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคงเคฎเคพเค•เคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Schlag

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pukulan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัƒะดะฐั€

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ cios

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่กๆ’ƒ (ใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใ’ใ)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท coup

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ golpe

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท darbe

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ถฉ๊ฒฉ (chung-gyeok)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุถุฑุจุฉ (darba)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ รบder

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ รบder

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ’žๅ‡ป (zhuร ngjฤซ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ udar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hรถgg

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัะพา›า›ั‹ (soqqy)

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒแƒ แƒขแƒงแƒ›แƒ (dart'qma)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zษ™rbษ™

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ golpe

Etymology

The word 'wham' is believed to have originated in the early 20th century, likely as an onomatopoeic representation of a loud impact or explosion. Its usage can be traced back to comic strips and graphic novels, where it was often employed to depict physical confrontations between characters, amplifying the dramatic effect through the use of bold lettering. Over time, 'wham' has transcended its comic roots and has become a colloquial term in everyday language, often used to describe any sudden or powerful occurrence. The adaptability of the word has allowed it to remain relevant across different contexts, from music and culture to sports and casual conversation.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,623, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.