Search
Select the dictionary language
to dam up
01
obstruct with, or as if with, a dam
Grammatical Information
Composition
phrasal
Action verb
Regular
Separable
Particle
up
Base verb
dam
Present tense
dam up
3rd person singular
dams up
Present participle
damming up
Past simple
dammed up
Past participle
dammed up
02
to hold back one's emotions, particularly anger or sadness, rather than openly acknowledging or dealing with them in a healthy manner
Examples
Despite feeling hurt, Tom dammed up his sadness and pretended everything was fine to avoid confrontation.
