1
a
: the hollow of the knee
b
: a buttock with its associated thigh
—usually used in plural
2
: a cut of meat consisting of a thigh
especially
: one from a hog
3
a
: a showy performer
especially
: an actor performing in an exaggerated theatrical style
b
: someone who enjoys performing and who tends to behave in an exaggerated or playful way when people are watching
A bit of a ham, she's been collecting these one-liners for decades.—
Elizabeth Rubin
Elizabeth Rubin" … I was always sort of a ham. I talk a lot. I'm wild. I was always performing growing up … "—Pokey LaFarge
Pokey LaFarge
c
: a licensed operator of an amateur radio station
4
: a cushion used especially by tailors for pressing curved areas of garments
ham
adjective
hammed; hamming
: to execute with exaggerated speech or gestures : overact
ham it up for the camera
: to overplay a part
: a son of Noah held to be the progenitor of the Egyptians, Nubians, and Canaanites
Examples of ham in a Sentence
Noun (1)
We're having ham for dinner.
He was once a fine actor, but now he's just an old ham.
Cameras bring out the ham in her.
Recent Examples on the Web
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
However, the flaky, buttery croissants — traditional, chocolate, almond and ham-and-cheese — are the bestsellers that receive raves every morning.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Episode writer Zachary Reiter knows exactly how to ham up the calm before the storm, warming us up with sentimental moments (like a mother preparing her son for his first date) and frisky foreshadowing (of course there’s a couple getting it on in the bathroom).
—Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024
Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
This ham and cheese slider recipe is a beloved Southern classic.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ham
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
There’s ham, some kind of seasoned pork, cheese — usually Swiss — pickles and, of course, mustard.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
However, the flaky, buttery croissants — traditional, chocolate, almond and ham-and-cheese — are the bestsellers that receive raves every morning.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
LaKeith Stanfield is an easy standout as Parker’s best friend Grofield, a passionate actor who moonlights as a criminal to fund his dead-end theater company — some of the movie’s heartiest chuckles come from the joy Grofield takes in getting to ham things up as part of the heist.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Episode writer Zachary Reiter knows exactly how to ham up the calm before the storm, warming us up with sentimental moments (like a mother preparing her son for his first date) and frisky foreshadowing (of course there’s a couple getting it on in the bathroom).
—Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024
Noun
The Skinny sandwiches have about one-third less bread, meat and cheese, tend to be under 400 calories and include turkey breast, chicken or ham, and can be blended with a cup of soup or a side.
—Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
This ham and cheese slider recipe is a beloved Southern classic.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ham
Cite this Entry
“Ham.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ham. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ham
1 of 2 noun1
: a buttock with its associated thigh
—usually used in plural
2
: a cut of meat consisting of a thigh
especially
: one from a hog
3
a
: an unskillful but showy performer
b
: an operator of an amateur radio station
ham
adjective
ham
2 of 2 verb
hammed; hamming
: to act with exaggerated speech or gestures
ham it up for the camera
Medical Definition
ham
noun1
: the part of the leg behind the knee : the hollow of the knee : popliteal space
2
: a buttock with its associated thigh or with the posterior part of a thigh
—usually used in plural
3
: a hock or the hinder part of a hock
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