ram

ram — verb

1. to push or drive one object forcefully against another object, often causing dam

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to push or drive one object forcefully against another object, often causing damage, movement, or forcing it into a position

Example

Haruto lost control of the wheel and rammed his car into a tree.

ram + object + into + noun (collision)

The movers rammed the heavy sofa against the door frame by mistake.

ram + object + against + noun (accidental force)

Common collocations
  • ram into
  • ram against
  • ram down
  • ram through
Synonyms
  • crash

    emphasises accidental collision with destructive result; 'crash into' does not imply deliberate force

  • batter

    suggests repeated, forceful hitting, often to break something down

  • thrust

    implies a steady pushing motion rather than a sudden forceful impact

  • drive

    more general; 'drive into' can mean forceful insertion but lacks the sense of violent impact

Antonyms
  • pull

    to move something away rather than forcing it against something

  • withdraw

    to remove something from a position rather than forcing it in

Grammar Patterns

ram + object + into/against + noun

ram + into/against + noun

Usage Note

Frequently appears with the prepositions 'into' or 'against' to indicate the target. The transitive form ('ram something into/against something') is more common than the intransitive form ('ram into/against something').

Common Mistakes

The car rammed the tree.' (missing preposition).
The car rammed into the tree.
'ram' almost always needs 'into' or 'against' to show the direction of the force.

2. to push your own ideas or beliefs onto someone else insistently, so that the oth

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to push your own ideas or beliefs onto someone else insistently, so that the other person feels pressured or irritated

Example

Diya's boss kept ramming his sales figures down everyone's throat.

ram + something + down + possessive + throat (idiom, most common pattern)

The history teacher rammed dates and names into our heads every lesson.

ram + something + into + possessive + head

Common collocations
  • ram down someone's throat
  • ram into someone's head
  • ram onto someone
Synonyms
  • force

    more general; 'force something on someone' is less vivid but has the same meaning

  • impose

    sounds more formal; 'impose your views on someone' implies authority

  • thrust

    similar physical metaphor; 'thrust something on someone' is slightly milder than 'ram'

Grammar Patterns

ram + object + down/into/onto + somebody/something

Usage Note

The fixed idiom 'ram something down someone's throat' is the most frequent expression for this sense and appears in everyday conversation. The alternative patterns 'ram something into someone's head' and 'ram something onto someone' are less common but still natural.

Common Mistakes

He rammed his opinion to me.' (wrong preposition).
He rammed his opinion down my throat.
the fixed idiom requires 'down' and 'throat'; there is no 'ram to' pattern.
Phrasal verbs

ram into

phrasal verb

To hit something with great force, often by accident.

The car rammed into the tree on the sidewalk.

A truck rammed into the back of my motorcycle.

Idioms

ram something down someone's throat

idiom

to force someone to accept an opinion, idea, or belief by expressing it very strongly and repeatedly, in a way they find annoying

Every time we meet, my neighbour rams his diet philosophy down my throat.

The advertisement keeps ramming the same message down viewers' throats.

ram something home

idiom

To make an idea or argument very clear and forceful so that everyone understands it.

The speaker rammed home the need for safety measures.

Did the coach ram home the importance of teamwork?

ram — noun

Word family

  • rammer
    nounC1
  • battering ram
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five verbs describe forceful contact between objects, but they differ in intention, repetition, and violence. 'Ram' implies a single, deliberate, or semi-deliberate act of driving one object against another with great force, often to move or break the target ('the car rammed the barrier'). 'Crash' emphasises accidental, destructive collision ('the plane crashed into the hill') and does not suggest purpose. 'Strike' is the most general term for landing a blow ('the ball struck the window'), without the connotation of driving or breaking through. 'Thrust' focuses on forward linear motion rather than impact ('he thrust the key into the lock'); it may involve no collision at all. 'Batter' suggests repeated, violent hits aimed at damaging or destroying the target ('waves battered the cliff'). Use 'ram' when the key idea is forcible entry or displacement; use 'batter' for sustained pounding; use 'crash' for accidents; use 'strike' for neutral hitting; and use 'thrust' for pushing without necessarily hitting.

ram ↗crash ↗strike ↗thrustbatter

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • ram into
  • ram against
  • ram down
  • ram through
  • ram down someone's throat

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'ram' comes from Old English 'ramm', meaning a male sheep. The verb meaning 'to strike or drive with force' developed in the 1500s from the use of battering rams — siege weapons named after the butting motion of male sheep. The computing abbreviation RAM (random access memory) was coined in the 1960s and is a modern acronym, not historically related to the older word.