: 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
Richard Bernstein
: in or by a zigzag path or course
: having short sharp turns or angles
a zigzag trail
zigzagged; zigzagging
: to form into a zigzag or move along a zigzag course
: 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
Leath Tonino, Outside Online, 23 Feb. 2017
Even when perfectly still, Garr had so much going on, the zigzags in her character’s emotions and feelings doing all the dancing and keeping the scene alive and spontaneous.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2024
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
Instead, notes flew like raindrops in a heavy and windy storm, smacking you in the face, zigzagging here and there, with no sign of a break on the horizon.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zigzag 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Having tagged the top of the pass 3,200 feet above Ouray and pulled a U-turn, Klein and I are now descending Upper Switchbacks, a set of precarious zigzags balanced on the mountain’s steep face.
—Leath Tonino, Outside Online, 23 Feb. 2017
Even when perfectly still, Garr had so much going on, the zigzags in her character’s emotions and feelings doing all the dancing and keeping the scene alive and spontaneous.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2024
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
Author Lily Tuck’s latest short novel zigzags through fact and fiction to memorialize a Polish teenager.
🧑🍳 For something fresh and tasty, here’s a recipe for tuna tartare toast.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
Instead, notes flew like raindrops in a heavy and windy storm, smacking you in the face, zigzagging here and there, with no sign of a break on the horizon.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zigzag
Dictionary Entries Near zigzag
Cite this Entry
“Zigzag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zigzag. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
zigzag
1 of 4 noun
zig·zag
ˈzig-ˌzag 
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share