wag

1 of 3

verb

ˈwag 

wagged; wagging

intransitive verb

1

: to be in motion : stir

2

: to move to and fro or up and down especially with quick jerky motions

3

: to move in chatter or gossip

scandal caused tongues to wag

4

archaic : depart

5

: waddle

transitive verb

1

: to swing to and fro or up and down especially with quick jerky motions : switch

a dog wagging its tail

specifically : to nod (the head) or shake (a finger) at (as in assent or mild reproof)

2

: to move (the tongue) animatedly in conversation

wagger noun

wag

2 of 3

noun (1)

: an act of wagging : shake

wag

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: wit, joker

2

obsolete : a young man : chap

Synonyms

Verb

• swish
• switch
• waggle

Noun (1)

• swish
• switch
• waggle
• whisk

Noun (2)

• card
• comedian
• comic
• droll
• farceur
• funnyman
• gagger
• gagman
• gagster
• humorist
• jester
• joker
• jokester
• wit

Examples of wag in a Sentence

Verb

The dog wagged its tail.

She wagged her finger at the children as she scolded them.

He wagged his head back and forth.

The dog's tail began to wag excitedly.

Noun (1)

the dog gave its tail a single wag before it flopped back down

Noun (2)

some wag wrote a droll satire on the scandal for the newspaper

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The junior running back, who just finished his season as the Heisman Trophy runner-up, had top-10 programs wagging big-money NIL deals under his nose ahead of his junior year. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2025

In a video posted on January 5, Rollo's owner can be seen walking into a hallway and being greeted by the guilty-looking dog, who looks up at his owner with puppy eyes while wagging his tail. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

Noun

The instant Shorty stepped inside, there were nonstop tail wags. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024

Dogs often show their happiness by wagging their tails, but one owner has learned those joyful wags can get canines into a bit of a predicament. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English waggen; akin to Middle High German wacken to totter, Old English wegan to move — more at way

Noun (2)

probably short for obsolete English waghalter gallows bird, from English wag entry 1 + halter

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1589, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wag

• chin-wag

Kids Definition

wag

1 of 3 verb

ˈwag 

wagged; wagging

: to move or swing to and fro or up and down especially with quick jerky movements

the dog wagged its tail

wagged his finger as he scolded

wagger noun

wag

2 of 3 noun

: a wagging movement

wag

3 of 3 noun

: joker sense 1, wit

Etymology

Verb

Middle English waggen "to be in motion, move about"

Noun

probably a shortened form of obsolete waghalter "a person who should be hanged"