juggle

1 of 2

verb

jug·​gle ˈjə-gəl 

juggled; juggling ˈjə-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to perform the tricks of a juggler

2

: to engage in manipulation especially in order to achieve a desired end

transitive verb

1

: to handle or deal with usually several things (such as obligations) at one time so as to satisfy often competing requirements

juggle the responsibilities of family life and full-time job

—Jane S. Gould

2

a

: to practice deceit or trickery on : beguile

b

: to manipulate or rearrange especially in order to achieve a desired end

juggle an account to hide a loss

3

a

: to toss in the manner of a juggler

b

: to hold or balance precariously

juggle

2 of 2

noun

: an act or instance of juggling:

a

: a trick of magic

b

: a show of manual dexterity

c

: an act of manipulation especially to achieve a desired end

Synonyms

Verb

• bamboozle
• beguile
• bluff
• buffalo
• burn
• catch
• con
• cozen
• deceive
• delude
• dupe
• fake out
• fool
• gaff
• gammon
• gull
• have
• have on [chiefly British]
• hoax
• hoodwink
• hornswoggle
• humbug
• misguide
• misinform
• mislead
• snooker
• snow
• spoof
• string along
• suck in
• sucker
• take in
• trick

Noun

• artifice
• device
• dodge
• fetch
• flimflam
• gambit
• gimmick
• jig
• knack
• play
• ploy
• ruse
• scheme
• shenanigan
• sleight
• stratagem
• trick
• wile

Examples of juggle in a Sentence

Verb

He is learning to juggle.

He juggled four balls at once.

She somehow manages to juggle a dozen tasks at once.

It can be hard to juggle family responsibilities and the demands of a full-time job.

I'll have to juggle my schedule a bit to get this all to work out.

Noun

a temporary suspension of the gas tax was just a crowd-pleasing juggle that was not a long-term solution to the energy problem

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The biggest point of friction super apps should eliminate is the need to juggle multiple apps for a variety of tasks and needs. —Mark Halberstein, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Her fabulously named Delysia Lafosse treats life like a Mae West comedy, juggling three hunky lovers, deluxe showbiz dreams, and a starchy social secretary (Frances McDormand) with screwball frenzy. —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024

Noun

There was the throw Bogaerts made, after a slight juggle, to just beat out a runner at first base. —Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 25 July 2024

Gregg does some not-bad jokes, Charles K. punches through some wood but also accidentally punches Gregg in the stomach, Christopher does yo-yo tricks, Michael reads a poem, and Gil juggles. —Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English jogelen, from Anglo-French jugler, from Latin joculari to jest, joke, from joculus, diminutive of jocus joke

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

juggle

verb

jug·​gle

ˈjəg-əl

juggled; juggling

-(ə-)liŋ

1

: to keep several objects in motion in the air at the same time

2

: to do several things at the same time

juggling three jobs

3

: make changes to (something) in order to achieve a desired result

had to juggle my schedule

juggler

-(ə-)lər

noun