ahem

interjection

a throat-​clearing sound; often read as
ə-ˈhem How to pronounce ahem (audio)
used especially to attract attention or to express disapproval or embarrassment

Examples of ahem in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After some *ahem* terse calls with FedEx that yielded nothing, Anthony and I had less than 24 hours to come up with another plan. James Powel, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025 Soto, Judge trade barbs Once, long ago — ahem, last season — Juan Soto and Aaron Judge formed the scariest hitting combination in MLB. Chris Branch, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025 So what’s the deal with The Weeknd (ahem, Abel) and what’s the future like for the singer? Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 2 Feb. 2025 Things are a little, ahem, uneasy in the Big Easy ahead of the city hosting Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ahem

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ahem was in 1603

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ahem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ahem. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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