English Reference
Noun

hammering

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈhæmɝɪŋ/ UK /hˈæməɹɪŋ/ ham·mer·ing

n.a very bad defeat or a loud, repeated hitting sound. If your team loses by a lot of points, they took a real hammering.

n.a heavy or comprehensive defeat in a contest; alternatively, the act of striking repeatedly with a heavy object. Often used figuratively in sports or financial contexts to describe a significant loss.


SIMPLE

The local team took a hammering in the final game.

CONTEXTUAL

After the disappointing earnings report, the company's stock took a hammering on the open market.

COMPLEX

The constant hammering from the construction site next door made it impossible for the residents to concentrate on their work throughout the afternoon.

Usage

Commonly used in the idiomatic phrase 'to take a hammering'.

Inside, I do a double-take: the men working are hammering together wooden coffins.

BBC News· 20 Aug 2026

Those changes, and the hammering out of details, are why we went from a Canadian government confident a deal was coming on Thursday to one that was bringing the negotiating team home Friday night.

Toronto Sun· 26 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated