Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

hammer

2 verb
     
hammer2
1

hit with a hammer

[intransitive and transitive] to hit something with a hammer in order to force it into a particular position or shape
hammer something in/into something
Hammer the nails into the back of the frame.
hammer away (at something)
All afternoon, Martin had been hammering away in the conservatory.
the sound of hammering and sawing
2

hit repeatedly

[intransitive] to hit something many times, especially making a loud noise [= pound, bang]
hammer at
Daniella hammered at the door.
The rain was hammering against the window.
3

hurt with problems

[transitive] to hurt someone or something by causing them a lot of problems:
British industry was being hammered by the recession.
4

hit hard

[transitive] informal to hit or kick something very hard:
Robinson hammered the ball into the goal.
5

criticize

[transitive] to strongly criticize or attack someone for something they have said or done:
The president has been hammered for his lack of leadership.
6

hammer something home

to make sure that people understand something by repeating it many times:
The message must be hammered home that crime doesn't pay.
7

heart

[intransitive]HBH if your heart hammers, you feel it beating strongly and quickly [= pound]:
She stood outside the door, her heart hammering.
8

defeat

[transitive] informal to defeat someone completely at a sport:
Arsenal hammered Manchester United 5-0.

hammer away

phrasal verb
1 to keep saying something because you want people to understand or accept it
hammer away at
I keep hammering away at this point because it's important.
2 to work hard and continuously at something
hammer away at
Keep on hammering away at achieving your goals.

hammer something ↔ in

phrasal verb
to keep saying something until people completely understand it:
The coach hammered his message into the team.

hammer something ↔ out

phrasal verb
to decide on an agreement, contract etc after a lot of discussion and disagreement:
Leading oil producers tried to hammer out a deal.
WORD FOCUS: hit WORD FOCUS: hit
with your fist: punch, thump, bash
with your open hand as a punishment: smack, spank, slap
with a hammer: bang, hammer
in order to get attention: bang, knock, tap, hammer
accidentally: bump into, crash into, strike, bang, knock, collide (with)

➔ See also hit
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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