# hammered

/ˈhæmɝd/ (US) · /hˈæməd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. very drunk

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang · British English

extremely drunk after drinking too much alcohol.

For teachers: intoxicated to a high degree. This sense is highly informal and common in British, Canadian, and Australian English.

- He was so hammered after the party that he couldn't find his keys.
- By the time the wedding reception ended, several guests were visibly hammered and had to be escorted to their taxis.

### 2. shaped by hitting

adjective · CEFR B2

having a surface that was shaped or flattened by hitting it with a hammer.

For teachers: having been struck or shaped by a hammer, often resulting in a decorative or functional texture.

- The artist sold beautiful hammered copper bowls at the market.
- The artisan used a specialized tool to create a hammered finish on the silver plate, giving it a unique, handcrafted appearance.

Usage: Often used to describe metalwork or jewelry finishes.

## Examples

- He got hammered at the party last night.
- They decided to take a taxi home because everyone was too hammered to drive safely.
- The film depicts a group of friends getting hammered in a local pub, capturing the messy and often regrettable consequences of their excessive drinking.

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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.