snag

1 of 2

noun

1
: a concealed or unexpected difficulty or obstacle
2
a
: an irregularity that suggests the result of tearing
especially : a pulled thread in fabric
a snag in her stocking
b
: a jagged tear made by or as if by catching on a snag
3
: a rough sharp or jagged projecting part : protuberance: such as
a
: a projecting tooth
also : a stump of a tooth
b
: one of the secondary branches of an antler
4
a
: a standing dead tree
b
: a tree or branch embedded in a lake or stream bed and constituting a hazard to navigation
snaggy adjective

snag

2 of 2

verb

snagged; snagging

transitive verb

1
a
: to catch and usually damage on or as if on a snag
b
: to halt or impede as if by catching on a snag
2
: to catch or obtain usually by quick action or good fortune
3
: to hew, trim, or cut roughly or jaggedly
4
: to clear (something, such as a river) of snags

Examples of snag in a Sentence

Noun I caught my sleeve on a snag and tore it. My sweater has a snag where I caught it on a nail. Verb I snagged my favorite sweater on a nail. The shortstop snagged the grounder. The police snagged the suspect as he was trying to run away. I managed to snag the information I needed from the Internet. Can I snag a ride from you?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This formula was durable against snags and lasted the full two weeks. Kate Watson, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Boeing has already slowed down production of its popular 737 Max jets as regulators scrutinize the company’s practices, which has already led to fewer flights being scheduled as airlines brace for snags in deliveries. Bryan Mena, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 After two years of delays and production snags, Tesla has finally handed the first Blade Runner-esque Cybertrucks over to customers. Dana Hull, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2023 While the proposal was certainly memorable, there was a snag. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 And, then there are snags to a greater uptake of solar in the U.S., the SEIA says. Nicholas Wyman, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Materials costs have risen in recent years, driven up by the supply chain snags of 2021 and 2022, and labor costs have soared as well. Brian Cheung, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 The streamlined design of these high-rise jogger pants is rivaled only by the light stretch, material that is breathable, quick-drying, UPF 40+ rated for sun protection, and resistant to snags and tears. Paula Lee, Glamour, 3 Jan. 2024 The last-minute snag created a tense standoff on the second day of what was meant to be a four-day cease-fire. CBS News, 25 Nov. 2023
Verb
Plus, snag some items for yourself, like a cozy lounge set or a 30% off Nespresso machine. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024 Lisa Ann Walter channeled a higher power to help snag her $1 million win on Celebrity Jeopardy! Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Luckily, a wake-up chat with Marshall puts Ted back on track, and the night isn't a total wash — Ted snags a yellow umbrella from the club and just misses the Mother. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 After multiple realtor changes and price chops, Grillo finally snagged the cool digs at a bargain-basement $6.6 million price, a nearly 50% discount off the original sticker. James McClain, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 This oven is pricey, so this sale is a good opportunity to snag one. Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 Another reason to snag an Ikon Pass is its list of perks. Brent Rose, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 This one has a streamlined design with a USB-C plug that connects right to the base of iPhone 15 (or other compatible device) — so there are no dangling cables to trip over or snag. Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2024 Godzilla Minus One — one win The latest Godzilla flick snagged the award for best visual effects — with team members Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima accepting the Oscar and each accompanied by their own Godzilla toys. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024

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

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse snagi clothes peg

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Verb

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of snag was circa 1587

Dictionary Entries Near snag

Cite this Entry

“Snag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snag. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

snag

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a tree or branch when stuck underwater and not visible from the surface
b
: a standing dead tree
2
: an uneven or broken part sticking out from a smooth surface
caught my sweater on a snag
3
: a concealed or unexpected difficulty
our plans hit a snag

snag

2 of 2 verb
snagged; snagging
: to catch on or as if on a snag

More from Merriam-Webster on snag

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