hammer
hammer — verb
- hammerpresent simple I / you / we / they
- hammers3rd person singular
- hammering-ing form
- hammeredpast simple
1. to strike an object using a hammer, usually to drive it into something, fix it i
to strike an object using a hammer, usually to drive it into something, fix it in place, or change its shape
Rodrigo hammered the nail into the wooden fence until it was secure.
hammer + noun + preposition + noun phrase (into)
Maeve hammered a thin sheet of copper flat on her workbench.
The carpenter hammered the frame of the shed into position.
Bilal hammered a long metal hook into the wall above the fireplace.
文法句型
hammer + noun (the nail)
hammer + noun + preposition + noun phrase
hammer + adverb (away)
2. to strike something or someone very hard, using a fist, foot, or another object
to strike something or someone very hard, using a fist, foot, or another object
Christopher hammered his fist against the locked door in frustration.
hammer + noun + preposition + against + noun phrase
Eliska hammered the ball into the top corner of the goal.
Mateo hammered the punching bag with both fists during training.
Sivan hammered the brakes when a dog ran into the street.
文法句型
hammer + noun (the ball / the door)
hammer + noun + preposition + noun phrase
用法筆記
Object is often a body part (fist, foot) or a thing being struck (ball, door, brakes). Frequently used in sports and driving contexts.
3. to beat an opponent very badly in a game, match, or fight, usually by a large ma
to beat an opponent very badly in a game, match, or fight, usually by a large margin
Feng's team hammered the defending champions by forty points.
hammer + noun + by + score difference
The champion boxer hammered her opponent in the very first round.
The visiting team hammered their hosts six goals to nil in the semi-final.
The national team hammered their city rivals by five goals to one.
文法句型
hammer + noun (the opponent / the team)
用法筆記
Common in sports reporting and casual conversation about competitions. Not used in formal writing.
4. to harm or affect something so severely that it suffers serious loss or damage
to harm or affect something so severely that it suffers serious loss or damage
The earthquake hammered the coastal town, destroying most of its buildings.
metaphorical: disaster hammered + noun
Rising fuel costs hammered the fishing industry across the region.
A sudden drop in share prices hammered Sirin's retirement savings.
The pandemic hammered small restaurants, forcing many to close.
文法句型
hammer + noun (the economy / confidence)
用法筆記
Subject is typically a disaster, crisis, economic event, or negative force. Object is often a business, sector, economy, or person's finances.
5. to express strong public disapproval of someone or something, often in the media
to express strong public disapproval of someone or something, often in the media or a public forum
Critics hammered the director's new film for its weak storyline.
hammer + noun + for + noun phrase (reason)
Joon's boss hammered him for missing the important client meeting.
The local newspaper hammered the council over its waste plan.
Ari was hammered online for making offensive remarks during the debate.
文法句型
hammer + noun (the government / the film)
hammer + noun + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (DAMAGE BADLY): sense 5 targets people or institutions through words (criticism), while sense 4 targets through real harm or loss. Often followed by for + reason.
hammer — noun
- hammersingular
- hammersplural
1. a tool made of a solid metal head attached firmly to a wooden handle so you can
a tool made of a solid metal head attached firmly to a wooden handle so you can drive nails into wood or break objects apart
Christopher reached for a hammer so he could hang a picture on the living room wall.
reach for a hammer + infinitive of purpose
Fatima picked up the hammer and carefully pulled out the bent nail from the floorboard.
Nora used a heavy hammer to break the concrete step into several smaller pieces.
You will need a hammer and some nails to fix that loose board on the porch.
Minho grabbed a hammer from the toolbox and began repairing the broken wooden chair.
- mallet
a hammer with a large wooden or rubber head, used for softer materials like wood or dough
- sledgehammer
a large, heavy hammer with a long handle, swung with both hands for breaking walls or rocks
- gavel
a small wooden hammer used by a judge or auctioneer, not for construction
用法筆記
Countable. Often used with 'a' (a hammer) or plural 'hammers'. Subject is typically a person performing a DIY or construction task.
常見錯誤
2. a steel sphere with a wire and a grip that athletes spin and release for distanc
a steel sphere with a wire and a grip that athletes spin and release for distance in a track-and-field competition
Sahil watched the hammer fly through the air and land far past the other marks on the grass.
the hammer fly through the air / land far past [measurement]
Haruto practised spinning the hammer faster to gain more distance on his throws.
pattern: spin the hammer / gain distance on throws
Élise threw the hammer thirty metres farther than her previous personal best distance.
Kiran adjusted his grip on the hammer before beginning the final spin of his throw.
用法筆記
Usually singular (the hammer) when referring to the specific piece of equipment used in a competition. Distinguish from sense 3, which refers to the event itself rather than the object.
3. the athletic field event in which competitors spin and release a heavy metal bal
the athletic field event in which competitors spin and release a heavy metal ball on a wire, with the longest throw winning
The hammer is one of the four throwing events in modern track-and-field competitions.
the hammer [event] is one of the ... events
Zola hopes to qualify for the hammer at next year's national athletics championships.
Competitors in the hammer take four powerful spins before releasing the metal ball into the air.
Noor has been training for the hammer every morning since the beginning of the season.
- hammer throw
the full name of the event; interchangeable with 'the hammer' in sports contexts
用法筆記
Always singular. Used with 'the' (the hammer) to name the discipline. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 is the event itself (not the physical object thrown). One does not 'throw the hammer' in sense 3 — one 'competes in the hammer'.
常見錯誤
4. a moving part inside a firearm that springs forward to hit the cartridge when yo
a moving part inside a firearm that springs forward to hit the cartridge when you squeeze the trigger, igniting the gunpowder and firing the projectile
Adina pulled the trigger slowly, and the hammer clicked forward inside the mechanism of the revolver.
pull the trigger + hammer clicks forward
Thandi cocked the hammer of her revolver before taking careful aim at the target.
An old revolver has a visible hammer that you pull back with your thumb before each shot.
Wei heard the hammer click when his uncle pulled the trigger of the old hunting rifle.
When the hammer strikes with enough force, it ignites the gunpowder and pushes the bullet forward.
- firing pin
a related but distinct part: the hammer strikes the firing pin, which then hits the bullet primer; sometimes confused with the hammer itself
用法筆記
Countable. Frequently referred to in the context of older firearms (revolvers, rifles). In modern semi-automatic pistols, the hammer may be internal and not visible.
5. a small padded lever inside a grand piano that lifts and taps a string when you
a small padded lever inside a grand piano that lifts and taps a string when you press a key, producing a musical tone
Each piano key moves a small hammer that hits one or more strings inside the instrument.
key + moves a hammer + hits strings
When Yuki pressed the key gently, the felt hammer rose slowly and touched the piano string.
pattern: press key → hammer rises → touches string
The piano's hammers are covered with felt so that the strings produce a warm, soft tone.
Each hammer inside the piano springs back into place immediately after striking its string.
用法筆記
Countable. Domain-specific to musical instruments. Clarify that this is an internal mechanism part, not a tool — distinguishable from sense 1 by context (piano, music).
常見錯誤
6. the smallest of three tiny bones located behind the eardrum; it has a hammer-lik
the smallest of three tiny bones located behind the eardrum; it has a hammer-like shape and relays vibrations deeper into the hearing system
Sound waves make the eardrum vibrate, which then moves the hammer bone in the middle ear.
sound waves + eardrum vibrate + moves the hammer bone
The hammer is the first of three small bones that carry vibrations from the eardrum inwards.
Lien's doctor explained that an ear infection had damaged the hammer bone and might affect her hearing.
The hammer bone passes vibrations to the anvil bone, which then sends them further into the inner ear.
- malleus
the medical Latin term for the hammer bone; used in clinical anatomy contexts
用法筆記
Usually singular (the hammer or the hammer bone). Also called the 'malleus' in medical terminology. Distinguish from the other two middle ear bones — the incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup).
常見錯誤
7. A tool driven by electricity or compressed air that strikes or drills into hard
A tool driven by electricity or compressed air that strikes or drills into hard materials such as rock, concrete, or pavement.
The construction crew used a power hammer to break up the concrete sidewalk.
collocation: power hammer / jackhammer / pneumatic hammer
Baraka rented a jackhammer to drill through the stone wall behind his house.
The road crew used a power hammer to drill into the pavement and guide new cables underneath.
The workers operated the jackhammer that shattered the old pavement in under an hour.
- jackhammer
a specific type of power hammer for breaking pavement or rock
- pneumatic hammer
a power hammer that runs on compressed air, common on construction sites
- power drill
a related tool used mainly for drilling rather than striking
文法句型
hammer + noun (compound: hammer drill, jackhammer)
用法筆記
In this sense, 'hammer' usually appears with a modifier specifying the power source or type (electric hammer, pneumatic hammer, jackhammer). Without a modifier, a reader may assume the hand tool.
常見錯誤
8. A small wooden mallet that an auctioneer strikes on a surface to signal that an
A small wooden mallet that an auctioneer strikes on a surface to signal that an item has been sold to the highest bidder.
The auctioneer raised his hammer and brought it down sharply on the table.
pattern: raise + bring down the hammer
When the hammer finally fell, the painting sold for over two million dollars.
pattern: the hammer falls (auction concluded)
The auctioneer shouted 'sold' as the hammer came down on the bidder's winning offer.
The room went silent as the hammer came down to close the final sale.
The antique clock went under the hammer and sold for three times its estimated price.
- gavel
the standard term for the same object, also used by judges
- auctioneer's mallet
a more formal description emphasizing the auction setting
文法句型
the + hammer + falls
under the + hammer
用法筆記
Common in fixed expressions: 'under the hammer' (being sold at auction) and 'the hammer falls' (the sale is finalized). This sense is closely tied to auction settings and is rarely used outside that context.
常見錯誤
9. A stick with a rounded padded head that a musician uses to strike instruments su
A stick with a rounded padded head that a musician uses to strike instruments such as xylophones, chimes, or kettledrums in order to produce notes.
Sofie picked up a felt-covered hammer and played the xylophone softly.
collocation: felt-covered / rubber / wooden hammer
The musician chose a rubber hammer to strike the chimes for a warm tone.
Dahlia struck the xylophone bars with a rubber hammer to produce a bright, cheerful melody.
The percussionist chose a soft felt hammer to create a gentle, mellow sound on the chimes.
Mei Lin used a pair of felt hammers to play a cheerful tune on the marimba.
用法筆記
Percussion hammers vary by material (felt, rubber, yarn, wood) to produce different tones. The head material and hardness directly affect the instrument's sound. Not to be confused with a drumstick, which is longer and used for drum kits.