ream
verb · noun
Simple meaning
A quantity of paper.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
reemIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɹim
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
Remove by making a hole or by boring
“The dentist reamed out the debris in the course of the root canal treatment.”
transitive
To remove (material) by reaming.
transitive
To remove burrs and debris from inside (something, such as a freshly bored hole) using a tool.
transitive
To enlarge (a hole), especially using a reamer; to bore (a hole) wider.
To shape or form, especially using a reamer.
noun
A quantity of paper; 480 or 500 sheets; one ream equals 20 quires
A bundle, package, or quantity of paper, nowadays usually containing 500 sheets.
chiefly in the plural
An abstract large amount of something.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Typical Use
- Primarily written
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Remove by making a hole or by boring
Used this way, ream is a common word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
“The dentist reamed out the debris in the course of the root canal treatment.”
- Emotional tone
- Slightly negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- Critical or judgemental
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use ream
- “The dentist reamed out the debris in the course of the root canal treatment.”verb
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Knowing “ream” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.