# Adam

/ˈædəm/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/adam
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. biblical figure

noun · CEFR B1

in the Bible, the first man created by God.

For teachers: the first human being and progenitor of the human race according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions.

- The story of Adam and Eve is found in the book of Genesis.
- Theological debates often centre on the nature of the fall of Adam and its implications for human morality.

### 2. given name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'man' or 'earth'.

- My friend Adam is coming over for dinner tonight.
- Adam remains a consistently popular choice for parents in many English-speaking countries due to its classic biblical roots.

### 3. the day before an eve

noun · CEFR B2 · Humorous · Informal

a funny way to name the day before a holiday eve, like December 23rd.

For teachers: a humorous colloquialism designating the day or night immediately preceding a holiday eve, most frequently used for December 23rd.

- We call December 23rd 'Christmas Adam' because it comes before Christmas Eve.
- The family tradition involved a small gift exchange on Christmas Adam to build anticipation for the main celebrations.

Usage: Usually used in the phrase 'Christmas Adam'.

### 4. design style

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a style of furniture and buildings from the 18th century.

For teachers: referring to the neoclassical style of architecture and interior design developed by the brothers Robert and James Adam in the 18th century.

- The dining room was decorated in the elegant Adam style.
- The manor house is a premier example of Adam architecture, featuring delicate plasterwork and refined neoclassical proportions.

## Examples

- The story of Adam and Eve is found in the Book of Genesis.
- The old Adam in him wanted to shout back, but he chose to remain calm and professional.
- Theological debates often center on the fall of Adam and its implications for the moral condition of all subsequent generations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.