am
- 1Present tense of be, used with I. Use it to talk about yourself.
I am ten years old.
I am waiting for my sister to get home.
UsageIn speech, I am often becomes I'm, but not at the end of a sentence: Yes, I am (not
incorrect: Yes, I'm).Note
- 2Another spelling of a.m.: in the morning, before noon.
My bus leaves at 7 AM.
The baby woke up at 3 AM again.
UsageAvoid adding in the morning after AM, because it repeats the same idea.
Note
- 3Sayay-EM/ˌeɪˈɛm/Short for amplitude modulation. It is often used for a kind of radio that is different from FM.
Dad listens to the news on AM in the car.
This old radio only gets AM.
UsageSay AM radio or listen on AM.
Note
Less common meanings
- 4Sayay-EM/ˌeɪˈɛm/A person who has been made a Member of the Order of Australia, or that title.
Our old school principal was made an AM for teaching children to read.
The speaker tonight is Dr. Mary Chen AM, honored for her work in Australian schools.
UsageWritten after a name: Helen Ward AM.
- 5The short sign for an A minor chord, used in music written for guitar and other instruments.
Put your first finger here to play Am.
The song sheet shows Am above the word "night."
UsageAm with a small m means A minor.
Note
- 6Sayay-EM/ˌeɪˈɛm/Short for Master of Arts: a degree you can earn after a first college degree.
My aunt has an AM in English.
He is studying for an AM in music.
UsageMost people write MA for this degree.
Note
- 7The two letters chemists write as a short name for americium.
On the periodic table, Am comes right after Pu.
The sticker inside the smoke alarm says it holds a tiny amount of Am-241.
UsageWrite it Am, with a small m.
- 8Sayay-EM/ˌeɪˈɛm/Short for additive manufacturing: making things by building them up in layers, as in 3D printing.
The company uses AM to make light metal parts.
Engineers chose AM because it wastes less metal than cutting parts from a solid block.
Note
- 9Short for I am, with I left out in casual writing and some dialects.
Am going to bed now, see you tomorrow.
Am fine, thanks for asking.
UsageIn formal writing, include I: I am late.
Note
- 10Sayay-EM/ˌeɪˈɛm/Short for Assembly Member: a member of the London Assembly, or formerly the Welsh Assembly.
Our local AM came to open the new library.
Five AMs from the valleys visited the school.
Note
- 11Short for anno mundi: used for years counted from the creation of the world, as in the Jewish calendar.
The old prayer book was printed in the year 5620 AM.
The date on the gravestone is 5701 AM.
UsageWritten before or after the year number: AM 5785 or 5785 AM.
Note
- 12Short for automated mapping: making maps by computer, usually paired with FM for keeping track of pipes and cables.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Old English eom, meaning "am". It goes back to a very old word meaning "I am, I exist".
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- English am derives from Old English eom, meaning "am". en.wiktionary.org
- Old English eom ultimately derives from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésmi, meaning "I am, I exist". en.wiktionary.org