as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
the prisoners were recaptured after only three days on the lam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
let's lam out of this hellhole while there's still time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of lam
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024
Six months later, he was found in Costa Rica and extradited back to Colorado (Hunsaker later claimed in court filings that going on the lam was his lawyer’s idea).
—Zach Everson, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Andrew Lawrence, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024
One of those classic films that’s as good as its reputation (and maybe even better), Billy Wilder’s high-spirited comedy stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as jazz musicians who have to lam it after witnessing a mob crime.
—Keith Phipps, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for lam
Noun
When Jax loses custody of her niece to the state, the two go on the lam to find Roki's missing mon.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024
Six months later, he was found in Costa Rica and extradited back to Colorado (Hunsaker later claimed in court filings that going on the lam was his lawyer’s idea).
—Zach Everson, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
No studio would finance the feature, about a whorehouse exhibitionist who lams it after being framed for murder — so director Melvin Van Peebles financed it himself with a boost from Bill Cosby, who gave him a $50,000 loan.
—Andrew Lawrence, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024
One of those classic films that’s as good as its reputation (and maybe even better), Billy Wilder’s high-spirited comedy stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as jazz musicians who have to lam it after witnessing a mob crime.
—Keith Phipps, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for lam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lam
Noun
-
The Reality: Most Will Not Be Able to Enter Canada Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants has left many searching for an escape, but Canada will not be a viable refuge for the vast majority.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
-
The escape comes one week after gun suspect Eric Cruz managed to slip away from a cop watching him at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia in Manhattan and run off while still wearing a hospital gown.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
More than 20 million people are living below the poverty line, and hundreds of thousands more have fled the country.—
Caroline Downey,
National Review,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The next morning he was spotted by law enforcement and tried to flee, but was captured after a brief pursuit on foot.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
So, is Disney’s newest leading man taken or flying solo?—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Deportations fly in the face of judicial orders, careening the country toward a constitutional crisis.—
Brian Barrett,
WIRED,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lam. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share