# hammering

/ˈhæmɝɪŋ/ (US) · /hˈæməɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hammering
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The local team took a hammering in the final game.
- After the disappointing earnings report, the company's stock took a hammering on the open market.
- The constant hammering from the construction site next door made it impossible for the residents to concentrate on their work throughout the afternoon.

## Usage notes

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

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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.