zag

1 of 2

noun

ˈzag 

1

a

: one of the sharp turns, angles, or alterations in a zigzag course

b

: one of the short straight lines or sections of a zigzag course at an angle to a zig

2

: zig sense 2

zag

2 of 2

verb

zagged; zagging

intransitive verb

: to execute a zag

—usually contrasted with zig

Synonyms

Verb

• break
• cut
• sheer
• swerve
• veer
• yaw
• zig

Examples of zag in a Sentence

Verb

the crowd roared as the clown on the bicycle zagged while the other clowns, in hot pursuit, zigged

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There were even special infomercial tools designed solely for crafting the ultimate zigs and zags, though my wavy-haired self never had much success with them. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 30 Aug. 2023

What was particularly interesting Sunday night was how Hilary’s eye then made a sudden zag to the west — from the Inland Empire to the heart of Los Angeles. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

zigzag

First Known Use

Noun

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1900, in the meaning defined above