What does "ama" mean?
Alternative spelling of amah.
Ama
/ˈɑː.mə/ name, noun, phrase, prep_phrase, slang
name, noun, phrase, prep_phrase, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Alternative spelling of amah.
- Grammar: ama is listed as name, noun, phrase, prep_phrase, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ancak, diver, fakat, lakin.
- Useful contrasts: agni, inland fisher, land diver.
- Usage evidence: You can't become an ama diver if you're not fully committed.
How to use "ama"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ama" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ama" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ama" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ama" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ama" is acting as name, noun, phrase, prep_phrase, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ancak" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ama", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Alternative spelling of amah. alt-of, alternative
"Not only does the baby have a jewel then, or some handsome gift, but his ama (nurse) is remembered with a bright gold doubloon (sixteen dollars)."
- 2 A traditional Japanese pearl diver, usually female, who mainly dives for seafood, typically without any tool for breathing.
- 3 The float on the outrigger of a proa or trimaran.
- 4 A toxic byproduct of improper or incomplete digestion. countable, uncountable
- 5 Fabric made from the hair of a camel or goat.
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 paternal grandmother; paternal grandma Philippines, colloquial
""Perhaps," her grandmother had said. She was nearing death at that point, Mia's ama. Her body was wracked with arthritis, rheumatism, Parkinson's, osteoporosis and more. The maids said she was crazy with pain, and perhaps too far gone to even think properly."
- 7 Initialism of ask me anything. Internet, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
"We did this after the company abruptly terminated Victoria Taylor, a Reddit employee who worked extensively with us as well as with other moderator teams on facilitating A.M.A.s. […] When the company removed her without warning or providing alternative resources, it effectively hindered every community that hosts the wildly popular A.M.A.s that have made Reddit a part of the mainstream media conversation. […] We received news of Ms. Taylor’s termination in a chaotic way: Someone who was scheduled to conduct an A.M.A. flew to New York to visit the Reddit office and discovered a canceled appointment and no backup support."
- 8 term of address for one's paternal grandmother Philippines, colloquial
"There would always be some food offerrings there, and every morning, Amma would burn some incense. More elaborate offerings were made on the anniversaries of his birth and death, and the Chinese festivals for the dead such as Qingming in April and the Hungry Ghosts on the seventh lunar month."
Prep_phrase
- 1 Alternative form of AMA (“against medical advice”). alt-of, alternative
- 2 Initialism of against medical advice. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Phrase
- 1 Initialism of ask me anything: usually attached to the end of a prompt in an “ask me anything” interview session. Internet, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Proper Noun
- 1 Initialism of American Medical Association. US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
"“While there is still time, we urge Florida to reconsider this change to help prevent a rise of infectious disease outbreaks that put health and lives at risk,” said Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, an AMA trustee."
- 2 A language of Papua New Guinea.
- 3 Initialism of Alberta Motor Association. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 4 A Nilo-Saharan language of Sudan.
- 5 Initialism of Australian Medical Association. Australia, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A female given name.
- 7 Initialism of American Motorcyclist Association. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"You can't become an ama diver if you're not fully committed."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ama"?
Common synonyms include: ancak, diver, fakat, lakin, medical association, medical society.
How do you use "ama" in a sentence?
You can't become an ama diver if you're not fully committed.
How do you pronounce "ama"?
Pronounced /ˈɑː.mə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Portuguese ama (“female nurse”), from Medieval Latin amma (“wet nurse, amma”), perhaps an alteration of mamma, of imitative origin, or from Ancient Greek.
Etymology 2
From Japanese あま.
Etymology 3
From Polynesian.
Etymology 4
From Sanskrit अम (ama, “disease”).
Etymology 5
Unknown.
Etymology 6
From Hokkien 阿媽 /阿妈 (a-má, “paternal grandmother”). See also Hokkien 俺媽 /俺妈 (án-má), Portuguese Templo de A-Má.
Etymology 7
Initialism.