# ram

/ˈɹæm/ (US) · /ɹˈæm/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. male sheep

noun · CEFR B1

an adult male sheep.

For teachers: a male sheep, typically one that has not been castrated.

- The farmer kept the ram in a separate field from the ewes during the summer.
- The ram was prized for its thick wool and sturdy build, serving as the primary breeding male for the entire flock.

### 3. heavy tool

noun · CEFR B2

a heavy object or tool used to hit and break through doors or walls.

For teachers: a heavy object, such as a battering ram, used for breaking through structural barriers by force.

- The police used a steel ram to break down the door during the raid.
- The medieval army constructed a massive wooden ram to breach the castle gates after the initial siege failed.

### 4. to hit hard

verb · CEFR B2

to hit something very hard, often with a vehicle or a heavy object.

For teachers: to strike or drive against something with great force, typically with the intent to damage or break through.

- The car lost control and rammed into a tree at the side of the road.
- The captain ordered the ship to ram the enemy vessel, hoping the reinforced bow would sink it instantly.

### 5. to force or stuff

verb · CEFR B2

to push or force something into a small space.

For teachers: to force, cram, or thrust something into a confined space using pressure.

- He tried to ram all his clothes into the tiny suitcase.
- The workers had to ram the insulation into the gaps between the walls to ensure the building stayed warm.

## Examples

- My laptop is slow because it needs more RAM.
- Running several professional video editing programs at once requires a significant amount of RAM to prevent the system from freezing.
- While the processor determines how quickly tasks are executed, the available RAM dictates the volume of data the system can manipulate simultaneously without relying on slower virtual memory.

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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.