ream

1 of 2

noun

ˈrēm 

1

: a quantity of paper being 20 quires or variously 480, 500, or 516 sheets

2

: a great amount

—usually used in plural

reams of information

ream

2 of 2

verb

reamed; reaming; reams

transitive verb

1

a

: to widen the opening of (a hole) : countersink

b(1)

: to enlarge, shape, or smooth out (a hole) with a reamer

(2)

: to enlarge the bore of (something, such as a gun) in this way

c

: to remove by reaming

2

a

: to press out with a reamer

b

: to press out the juice of (a fruit, such as an orange) with a reamer

3

: cheat, victimize

4

: reprimand

—often used with out

reams out his players so severely

—Alexander Wolff

Synonyms

Noun

• abundance
• barrel
• basketful
• boatload
• bucket
• bunch
• bundle
• bushel
• carload
• chunk
• deal
• dozen
• fistful
• gobs
• good deal
• heap
• hundred
• lashings [chiefly British]
• lashins
• loads
• lot
• mass
• mess
• mountain
• much
• multiplicity
• myriad
• oodles
• pack
• passel
• peck
• pile
• plateful
• plenitude
• plentitude
• plenty
• pot
• potful
• profusion
• quantity
• raft
• scads
• sheaf
• shipload
• sight
• slew
• spate
• stack
• store
• ton
• truckload
• volume
• wad
• wealth
• yard

Verb

• beat
• bilk
• bleed
• cheat
• chisel
• chouse
• con
• cozen
• defraud
• diddle
• do
• do in
• euchre
• fiddle
• fleece
• flimflam
• gaff
• hose [slang]
• hustle
• mulct
• nobble [British slang]
• pluck
• rip off
• rook
• screw
• shake down
• short
• shortchange
• skin
• skunk
• squeeze
• stick
• stiff
• sting
• sucker
• swindle
• thimblerig
• victimize

Examples of ream in a Sentence

Noun

I have reams of paperwork to do before I can leave today

Verb

He got reamed in the press for his comments.

reamed a whole new generation of suckers with a variation of the Ponzi scheme

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That means hordes of oncologists filling the halls, reams of data streaming through the meeting, and incredibly long lines for even the worst food. —Adam Feuerstein , Matthew Herper, STAT, 1 June 2024

In many cases, despite the reams of fossil fuel propaganda trying to convince you that doing your part on climate will be expensive, making climate-conscious choices will both save you money and improve your quality of life. —Tom Steyer, Fortune, 28 May 2024

Verb

For Wags, that means reaming out Winston (Will Roland), who has quit Michael Prince Capital and attempted to pitch his own risk management software to Prince's competitors. —Kyle Fowle, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2023

As the Washington Examiner’s Byron York points out, there are explicit Justice Department guidelines that forbid Smith from trying to influence an election — though, if the mainstream press yawns and the presiding judge fails to ream him out, there is not much that can be done. —Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 6 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English reme, from Anglo-French, ultimately from Arabic rizma, literally, bundle

Verb

perhaps from Middle English *remen to open up, from Old English rēman; akin to Old English rȳman to open up, rūm space — more at room

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

ream

1 of 2 noun

ˈrēm 

1

: a quantity of paper that may equal 480, 500, or 516 sheets

2

: a great amount

—usually used in plural

reams of notes

ream

2 of 2 verb

: to shape, make larger, or smooth out with a reamer

Etymology

Noun

Middle English reme "a quantity of paper," from early French reme (same meaning), from Arabic rizma, literally, "bundle"

Verb

probably from Old English rēman "to open up"