What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dam
Example
The Hoover Dam is a famous example of a large dam. [dam: noun]
Example
The engineers are planning to dam the river to create a reservoir. [dam: verb]
weir
Example
The salmon were jumping over the weir to reach their spawning grounds. [weir: noun]
Example
The researchers installed a weir to monitor the water levels in the river. [weir: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dam is more commonly used than weir in everyday language, as it is a more versatile term that covers a wider range of contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between dam and weir?
Dam is generally considered a more formal term than weir, which is often used in technical or specialized contexts.
