clam up

verb

clammed up; clamming up; clams up

intransitive verb

: to become silent
clammed up and refused to talk

Examples of clam up in a Sentence

the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room
Recent Examples on the Web Judges struggle to name favorite cheese Ask a judge to pick their favorite and most will clam up, dodge the question or offer a long, unranked list. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 One social worker said that a girl clammed up in a recent interview that her mother was invited to. Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 City clams up over chance of lawsuit Antoine Bryant, director of planning and development, apologized to City Council members for soliciting the contract to pay for the murals using city money without the nine-member body's approval, which is required. Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2024 With less contact between the user's hand and the electronics, plus more airflow, users may find their hands clamming up less easily during long hours of intense use. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2023 Jim Harbaugh will coach not to lose and clam up just enough to let Ohio State’s amazing skill talent pull the upset late. J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023 When pandemic lockdowns clammed up her restaurant clientele, Ms. Brown began selling her oysters from her flatbed truck near her farm in Little Bay, New Hampshire. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Sep. 2023 Local vape-shop owners clammed up as scrutiny over their sales practices increased. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 22 June 2023 As the vibrant Sun in your communication sector is smothered by wet blanket Saturn in your inhibited 12th house, your fears of being misunderstood could provoke you to clam up. Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clam up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clam up was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near clam up

Cite this Entry

“Clam up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clam%20up. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clam up

verb
: to become silent
they clammed up when asked for more information

More from Merriam-Webster on clam up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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