jammed

Everyday

1. Stuck so it cannot move or work (the door is jammed). tree →
2. Packed very tightly; very full (the bus was jammed with people). tree →
3. Pushed hard into a small space (he jammed his clothes into the bag). tree →
4. Hurt by being squashed (I jammed my finger). tree →
5. (informal) Played music together without planning. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday life: a jammed door, drawer, zip or printer. Safety: never put fingers in a jammed machine; a jammed fire exit is dangerous. Traffic: roads jammed with cars. Phrases: jammed shut, jammed with, paper jam, traffic jam, jammed my finger.

Examples

• The window is jammed and will not open. tree →
• The printer jammed again, so Mum pulled out the paper. tree →
• The road was jammed with cars after the match. tree →
• I jammed my finger in the car door. tree →
• He jammed all his toys into one box. tree →
• The hall was jammed with parents at the concert. tree →
• The band jammed in the garage all afternoon (informal). tree →
• They plunged forward in the mud, and managed somehow to run their yoke on the pole of an ammunition wagon, where it jammed. tree →

Note

Past form of "jam": double m (jammed, jamming). Same word as "jam" the fruit spread — different meaning. Never put your hand into a jammed machine while it is switched on.