Definition of hammer - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
toolstool with a heavy head for striking
- He used a hammer to drive the nails into the wood..
2.
conclusionfinal, decisive action or event
- His resignation was the hammer that ended his political career..
3.
firearmsTECH. part of a firearm that strikes the primerTECH.
- The gun's hammer must be pulled back to fire..
4.
musicTECH. felt-covered piece in piano that strikes stringsTECH.
- The piano hammer struck the strings softly.
5.
auctionRare UK auctioneer's gavelRare UK
- The item was sold with a bang of the hammer.
6.
sportsTECH. heavy ball on a wire used in throwingTECH.
- She excelled in the hammer throw event.
7.
medicalTECH. the malleus bone in the middle earTECH.
- The doctor explained the function of the hammer in hearing.
Verb
1.
workstrike repeatedly using a heavy tool to drive or shape
- He hammered the nail into the wall.
2.
- The player hammered the ball into the net.
3.
- Our team hammered the opponents in the final.
4.
forgeshape metal by hitting with a heavy tool
- The blacksmith hammered the iron into a horseshoe.
5.
communicationemphasize forcefully and repeatedly
- The speaker hammered the point throughout the presentation..
6.
- He hammered down the road during the race.
7.
- The server was hammered with requests during the sale.
Images of hammer

tool with a heavy head for striking 
part of a firearm that strikes the primer 
felt-covered piece in piano that strikes strings 
auctioneer's gavel
Expressions with hammer
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
powerful stroke with a hammer
He delivered a hammer blow to the metal to shape it..
drive a nail or object into a surface
He hammered in the nails to secure the frame.
drive a nail or object into a surface using a hammer
He hammered the nail into the wooden board.
hit something again and again with a hammer
He hammered on the nail until it was flat.
make someone remember something by repeating it strongly
The teacher hammered the rules into our heads.
punish someone very harshly
The coach brought down the hammer after the team's poor performance.
enforce rules or impose a penalty
The referee had to drop the hammer after the foul.
emphasize a point to ensure understanding
She hammered the point home during the meeting.
criticize or complain repeatedly
He would hammer away at the same issues every meeting.
work hard and persistently on something difficult
She hammered away at her homework all night.
press the accelerator pedal to the floor
He hammered down on the highway to overtake the truck.
emphasize something strongly and repeatedly
She continued to hammer home the importance of daily exercise..
improve or organize something by applying effort or discipline
The coach hammered the team into shape before the game.
act decisively with urgency
She put the hammer down to finish the project on time.
being sold at an auction
The painting went under the hammer yesterday.
aggressively sell to cause a market downturn
Traders decided to hammer the market after the bad news.
person who is gentle but firm
She is known as the velvet hammer in negotiations.
in a difficult situation with two unpleasant choices
She acted between the hammer and the anvil, unsure which path to take.
with great force, energy, or aggression
They argued hammer and tongs all night.
reach an agreement after long discussion
They hammered out a deal after hours of negotiation.
track and field event throwing a heavy ball with a wire
He won gold in the hammer throw at the Olympics.
tool for breaking car windows in emergencies
He used the safety hammer to break the window.
very direct and straightforward
His feedback was blunt as a hammer, leaving no room for doubt.
hammer with flat head and curved claw
Dad used a claw hammer to fix the chair.
Origin of hammer
Old English, hamor (stone, tool)
Terms with hammer included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
equipment
handheld implement like a hammer or saw
gun action
lift the hammer of a gun to make ready for firing
tools
heavy hammer for driving stakes
construction
hammer a nail until fully embedded
formal setting
call for order by striking a small wooden hammer
sports
lightweight hammer used in croquet or polo
workshop tool
tool delivering strong force when struck with a hammer
weapon
hammer of a firearm trigger mechanism
hammer dulcimer
stringed instrument played by striking strings
athletics
area for throwing discus or hammer
curling
scoring in curling without the hammer
tools
flat-faced fulling hammer
music
small hammer-like tool for playing musical instruments
wood splitting
split logs using a heavy hammer and wedge
tool
heavy hammer for splitting logs
timekeeping
hammer in a clock that rings a bell
metallurgy
process of making steel ductile with a tilt hammer
tool
hammer with a rounded and flat head
firearms
safety position of a firearm hammer
butchery tool
axe with blade and hammer for slaughtering cattle
firearms
part of a gun holding the hammer
metallurgy
hammer and squeeze material to remove impurities
tool
heavy hammer used for breaking rocks
tool
type of hammer with a curved claw for pulling nails
Examples of hammer in a sentence
A hammer lay on the workbench, ready for use. The court's decision was the hammer in the case. The final vote was the hammer that sealed the deal. The hammer of the revolver clicked ominously. He inspected the hammer for any signs of wear. The hammer needed replacement after years of use.
A broken hammer can affect the piano's sound quality. The auctioneer raised the hammer to start the bidding. With a final tap of the hammer, the auction closed. The athlete trained hard for the hammer competition. He set a new record in the hammer event. The hammer is crucial for transmitting sound vibrations. Damage to the hammer can affect hearing ability. She hammered the metal into shape. They hammered the tent stakes into the ground. He hammered the puck past the goalie. She hammered the tennis ball across the court. They hammered their rivals in the championship game. The boxer hammered his opponent in the first round. He hammered the metal sheet into a sculpture. The artisan hammered the silver into a delicate bracelet. She hammered the importance of safety in her speech. The coach hammered the strategy during practice. She hammered through the final stretch, leaving everyone behind. They hammered along the trail, enjoying the speed. The application was hammered by users after the update. The website got hammered during the promotional event.
View all translations of hammer
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:marteau, marteler, ...
- German:Hammer, hämmern, ...
- Italian:martello, martellare, ...
- Spanish:mazo, martillar, ...
- Portuguese:martelo, martelar, ...
- Chinese:锤子, 钉, ...
- Japanese:ハンマー, 打ち込む, ...
- Arabic:مِطْرَقَة, طَرَقَ, ...
- Hebrew:פַּטִּישׁ, לִדְפּוֹק, ...
- Russian:молоток, забивать, ...
- Ukrainian:молоток, забивати, ...
- Hindi:हथौड़ा, ठोंकना, ...

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.
icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.
icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the