jag

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: spree
a crying jag
b
: a state or feeling of exhilaration or intoxication usually induced by liquor
2
: a small load

jag

2 of 4

noun (2)

: a sharp projecting part : barb

jag

3 of 4

verb

jagged; jagging

intransitive verb

1
: to move in jerks
2

transitive verb

1
: to cut indentations into
also : to form teeth on (a saw) by cutting indentations
2
chiefly dialectal : prick, stab
jagger noun

JAG

4 of 4

abbreviation

judge advocate general

Examples of jag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Since its buying jag began, the company has filed suit in federal court against a group of families the firm purchased property from, seeking $510 million. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023 One bear, on a jag this spring, broke into multiple unlocked vehicles. Vanessa Arredondo, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023 Alcohol exacerbated Brian’s fragile disposition — leading to tantrums, meltdowns, car crashes, and crying jags. Elizabeth Winder, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2023 Music is a surefire way to stop a crying jag for some babies. Parents Editors, Parents, 7 June 2023 Even the butt-freezing toilet, located in an unheated stall outside the front door, elicited tears; the thought of Nina's stew—a thin combination of carrots, duck, celery, and old bread of which Julia was never awarded any of the meat—brought on a full crying jag. Ew Staff, EW.com, 4 May 2021 No one wants to be barraged with unsolicited advice, but sometimes another mom's reassurance that the two-week sniffles are a real thing or her tip for kneading gas bubbles out of a baby's tummy is the difference between sanity and a crying jag while panic-calling the pediatrician. Charlotte Hilton Andersen, Redbook, 25 Aug. 2017 Bennani was on a research jag, obsessively learning about teleportation. New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021 That is to say, the book begins in 1977 and circles back to the winter of 1971–1972, when Bunting was teaching at the University of Victoria in British Columbia and the younger poet happened to bounce there on an extended peripatetic jag. Ange Mlinko, The New York Review of Books, 13 May 2021
Verb
In August, Scott appeared at a town hall in Charleston, the beginning of a campaign jag across his home state. Robert Samuels, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023 The GOP impeachment jag alone may help swing some battleground districts to Democrats. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023 The boundary line drawn by the Republicans had jagged up from Superior to keep Endsley’s house in the district. Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jag.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Verb

Middle English jaggen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1578, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of jag was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near jag

Cite this Entry

“Jag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jag. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jag

1 of 2 noun
: a sharp pointed part

jag

2 of 2 noun
: spree
a crying jag

Legal Definition

JAG

abbreviation
judge advocate general

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