# jammed

/ˈdʒæmd/ (US) · /dʒˈæmd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jammed
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

stuck or blocked so that something cannot move. You use this when a machine stops working because something is caught inside it.

For teachers: unable to move or be moved due to being stuck, wedged, or overcrowded. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'get', or 'become'.

## Examples

- The paper is jammed in the printer again.
- I tried to open the window, but the wooden frame was jammed tight from the humidity.
- The mechanism became jammed after a small pebble lodged itself between the gears, bringing the entire assembly to a grinding halt.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The door is jam." but "The door is jammed." — Learners often use the base noun/verb 'jam' instead of the participial adjective 'jammed' to describe the state of being stuck.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by the preposition 'in' or 'with'.

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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.