hammering

hammering — noun

1. the loud noise produced when someone or something strikes a surface forcefully a

1.nounB1
Definition

the loud noise produced when someone or something strikes a surface forcefully and repeatedly, often using a tool or a fist, or the act of making this noise.

Example

The constant hammering from the building site next door made Bao's windows vibrate.

hammering from [source/place]

Mizuki recognised her neighbour's hammering by the fast, steady rhythm it followed.

hammering + possessive + described by its rhythm

Common collocations
  • constant hammering
  • loud hammering
  • distant hammering
  • hammering sound
  • sound of hammering
Synonyms
  • pounding

    more violent and less rhythmic

  • banging

    usually louder and less controlled

  • knocking

    softer and gentler; often at a door

Grammar Patterns

hammering + from + [source]

hammering + of + [person/thing]

Usage Note

Usually singular or uncountable; describes either the sound itself (countable with a/an) or the ongoing activity (uncountable).

Common Mistakes

I heard a hammer' (when you mean the sound of hammering).
I heard hammering from the garage.
'a hammer' refers to the tool, not the sound it makes.

2. a situation in which a person, team, or group is completely defeated, especially

2.nounB2
Definition

a situation in which a person, team, or group is completely defeated, especially in a competition, election, or contest.

Example

The national football team took a real hammering in their match against Brazil.

took a real hammering in [competition]

Devika's proposal for a new park got a hammering from the city council.

got a hammering from [group]

Common collocations
  • take a hammering
  • get a hammering
  • suffer a hammering
  • receive a hammering
Synonyms
  • thrashing

    more severe; often implies a large point or score difference

  • drubbing

    slightly more formal; used in sports and politics

  • rout

    emphasizes that the defeated group scattered or gave up

Antonyms
  • victory

    complete defeat is the opposite of winning

Grammar Patterns

take a hammering

get a hammering

receive a hammering

suffer a hammering

Usage Note

Common in sports commentary, election coverage, and business contexts. Always takes an article (a hammering). Subject is the person or group that loses.

3. the state of a physical object, structure, or place being badly damaged or destr

3.nounB2
Definition

the state of a physical object, structure, or place being badly damaged or destroyed, typically by extreme weather, an accident, or a powerful external impact.

Example

The coastal village took a hammering from the strong winds and rising floodwater.

took a hammering from [natural disaster]

Mayumi's vegetable garden took a hammering during the unexpected hailstorm in April.

took a hammering during [weather event]

Common collocations
  • take a hammering
  • get a hammering
  • suffer a hammering
Synonyms
  • battering

    more physical; often of a place hit by weather

  • pummelling

    less common; implies sustained, repeated damage

Grammar Patterns

take a hammering

get a hammering

Usage Note

Subject is usually a place, object, or business — something non-human that suffers harm. Distinguish from sense 2 (defeat of a person/team in competition) and sense 4 (physical attack on a person).

4. a situation in which a person is physically attacked, beaten, or repeatedly stru

4.nounB2
Definition

a situation in which a person is physically attacked, beaten, or repeatedly struck, especially with fists or a blunt object.

Example

The old man got a terrible hammering from the thieves who stole his bag.

got a terrible hammering from [criminal group]

Joaquín took a real hammering in the boxing ring and could not continue.

took a real hammering in [place/event]

Common collocations
  • get a hammering
  • take a hammering
  • give someone a hammering
  • suffer a hammering
Synonyms
  • beating

    more neutral and common; less dramatic

  • thrashing

    implies sustained, severe physical punishment

Grammar Patterns

get a hammering

take a hammering

give someone a hammering

suffer a hammering

Usage Note

Subject is the person who is beaten. Active form (give someone a hammering) means the attacker is the subject. Distinguish from sense 2, which refers to defeat in a game or contest rather than physical violence.

5. very strong and harsh criticism directed at a person, idea, policy, or piece of

5.nounB2
Definition

very strong and harsh criticism directed at a person, idea, policy, or piece of work.

Example

Caleb's debut novel about the Irish famine took a hammering from critics for its inaccurate historical research.

took a hammering from [critics]

The mayor's housing policy got a hammering in the local newspaper for forcing out low-income families.

got a hammering in [publication]

Common collocations
  • take a hammering
  • get a hammering
  • face a hammering
  • give someone a hammering
Synonyms
  • criticism

    more neutral and general; can be mild or strong

  • condemnation

    more formal; implies moral judgment

  • flak

    very informal; often from many people at once

Antonyms
  • praise

    positive feedback is the opposite of harsh criticism

Grammar Patterns

take a hammering

get a hammering

face a hammering

give someone/something a hammering

Usage Note

Can describe criticism received (take/get/face a hammering) or delivered (give someone a hammering). Distinguish from sense 2 (defeat in a competition) and sense 4 (physical violence).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe repetitive striking sounds, but they differ in force and setting. Pounding is the heaviest and most violent — think of waves crashing against rocks or someone hitting a door with both fists in anger. Banging is also loud but less rhythmic, often produced by slamming doors or dropping heavy objects. Hammering (the headword) is specifically the sound of a hammer or fist striking a surface in a steady, repeated way, like a carpenter at work or a person knocking urgently. Knocking is gentler and controlled, usually done with the knuckles on a door. Tapping is the lightest of all, using fingertips or a small object against a surface. For example: 'The plumber's hammering echoed through the pipes,' but 'the librarian gave a soft tapping on the desk to get attention.'

poundingbangingknocking ↗tapping

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • take a hammering
  • get a hammering
  • suffer a hammering
  • give someone a hammering
  • face a hammering
  • receive a hammering

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'hammering' is the noun form of the verb 'to hammer', which comes from the Old English noun 'hamor' (a tool with a heavy metal head for striking). 'Hamor' can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *hamaraz, which may be related to an ancient word for 'stone' — suggesting early hammers were simply stones used as tools. The figurative senses (defeat, damage, criticism) developed in the 19th and 20th centuries, comparing the impact of a hammer's blow to the effect of losing, being hurt, or being harshly judged.