Cement-based materials, as important building materials in construction and engineering, face a number of challenges during long-term application, such as easy cracking and easy penetration by solution. In order to solve the problems of high brittleness and susceptibility to cracking of traditional cement-based materials, polyacrylamide (PAM) modification technology has become a solution of great interest. The research progress of PAM modified cement-based materials was summarized systematically, including the structure and properties of PAM, synthetic monomers and methods, and applications in cement-based materials. The effect of PAM on cement-based materials, including mechanical properties, durability, permeability, and modulation of microstructure was discussed, and the mechanism of PAM modification was summarized. The importance and potential value of PAM-modified cement-based materials were emphasized. However, there are still some challenges to be overcome to further enhance the research and exploration. For this reason the future research direction should be devoted to optimizing PAM modification technology and expanding application areas, etc. In summary, PAM-modified cement-based materials have important research value and application prospects, which deserve further in-depth exploration.