zigzag

1 of 4

noun

zig·​zag ˈzig-ˌzag How to pronounce zigzag (audio)
: one of a series of short sharp turns, angles, or alterations in a course
also : something having the form or character of such a series
a blouse with green zigzags
endured the zigzags of policy Richard Bernstein
zigzaggy adjective

zigzag

2 of 4

adverb

: in or by a zigzag path or course

zigzag

3 of 4

adjective

: having short sharp turns or angles
a zigzag trail

zigzag

4 of 4

verb

zigzagged; zigzagging

transitive verb

: to form into a zigzag or move along a zigzag course

intransitive verb

: to lie in, proceed along, or consist of a zigzag course

Examples of zigzag in a Sentence

Noun The kids were running in circles and zigzags around the yard. He's wearing a shirt with red zigzags on it. Verb We saw a motorcycle zigzagging on the highway. The player with the ball zigzagged back and forth down the field. A dirt road zigzags up the steep hill to our cabin.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Apply the paint in 3-by-3-foot sections, using a zigzag pattern to get paint onto the wall quickly. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2024 The centerpiece of her outfit also featured speckles of white and red as well in a classic zigzag pattern. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 8 Jan. 2024 With the green dough sheets, use a succulent fondant cutter to create zigzag shapes. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2023 But the network is winding, uneven and in some parts fashioned in a zigzag pattern to evade Israeli detection. Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023 The bites are often found in clusters, either in a straight row or zigzag pattern, WebMD states. Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023 Hulman Building and Garage 20 N.W. 4th St. and 109-111 N.W. 3rd St. in Evansville Courtesy of its art deco style, the 10-story commercial skyscraper displays carved scenes of transportation and industry along with floral and zigzag motifs. The Indianapolis Star, 22 Aug. 2023 Get The Recipe 12 of 70 Eggnog Spice Cake With Bourbon Custard Filling And Eggnog Buttercream Slightly boozy and decorated with a festive, zigzag frosting, guests are sure to enjoy this layered take on Christmas eggnog. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2023 Advertisement Police described the dog, named Drake, as a gold pit bull-Rhodesian ridgeback mix with a zigzag scar on his back. Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Any number of odd, zigzag examples can be used to make the case that legislative districts in Wisconsin are excessively gerrymandered. Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023
Verb
The labyrinth under Gaza itself is believed to be the most extensive, complex and sophisticated, with long passages zigzagging at different depths underground beneath population centers. Laura Strickler, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2023 Long sections about her college off-Broadway work and her first big break can seem discursive, especially when parts start to zigzag between different eras in India’s still-quite-young life. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024 The Fed pays more attention to the inflation figure after ignoring prices for food and fuel, which can zigzag sharply month to month. Stan Choe, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2024 Choose from six cleaning modes: auto cleaning, spot cleaning, edge cleaning, schedule cleaning, manual control, and zigzag control. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 10 Jan. 2024 One is the unorthodox influence of the director Jacques Rozier, the most spontaneous and zigzagging member of the New Wave. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2024 The truck zigzagged through side streets for two hours to avoid Israeli tanks on the main road south. Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jan. 2024 The neighborhood’s boundaries zigzag from the Menomonee River to the north, Frederick Miller Way to the south, Hawley Road and 60th Street along Blue Mound Road to the west, and Brewers Blvd. Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024 With their pastries filled with chocolate, pistachio, or matcha cream, Cardmembers were then off to the decorating table to learn how to properly zigzag ganache across the top of their pastry. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zigzag.' 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

French

First Known Use

Noun

1712, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1750, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of zigzag was in 1712

Dictionary Entries Near zigzag

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

zigzag

1 of 4 noun
zig·​zag ˈzig-ˌzag How to pronounce zigzag (audio)
: one of a series of short sharp turns, angles, or changes in a course
also : something having the form or appearance of such a series

zigzag

2 of 4 adverb
: in or by a zigzag path or course

zigzag

3 of 4 adjective
: having short sharp turns or angles

zigzag

4 of 4 verb
zigzagged; zigzagging
: to form, move along, or consist of a zigzag course

More from Merriam-Webster on zigzag

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