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“Dam” or “Damn”

dam / damn are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

dam d·AE·m

  • nouna barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea.
  • nounfemale parent of an animal especially domestic livestock.
  • verbobstruct with, or as if with, a dam.

damn d·AE·m

  • nounsomething of little value.
  • adjectiveused as expletives.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“dam”

  • …consists of a Fordham gneiss dam with a fish ladder.
  • By built a dam on Brantas river, he provides…
  • …of the state-funded San Jerónimo Dam which cost
  • …canal originating from the Tungabhadra Dam to the extent of 10…
  • …1830, before work on the dam began.
  • …is also constructed at the dam site.
  • As such, the 182nd Street Dam was known as Delancey's Falls,…
  • Mid Penna dam
  • …south of the 182nd Street Dam, a small cascade on the
  • PABR Dam

“damn”

  • Tompall had a damn record...I never went to one…
  • …to the checkered flag – damn the consequences" and the duel…
  • Damn Fine Novel
  • who described it as "damn near perfect" and awarded it…
  • (2002), I'll Tell You One Damn Thing, and That's All I
  • Use of the words "damn" and "hell" in The Reptile…
  • …in Camelot, Gwen Verdon in Damn Yankees and Ethel Merman in…
  • …string of recordings including Someone, Damn, and their Christmas charity single…
  • …1958 - The Big Beat, Damn Citizen, The Thing That Couldn't…
  • …on a major label, he's damn well gonna act it."

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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