jag

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: spree
a crying jag
b
: a state or feeling of exhilaration or intoxication usually induced by liquor
2
: a small load

jag

2 of 4

noun (2)

: a sharp projecting part : barb

jag

3 of 4

verb

jagged; jagging

intransitive verb

1
: to move in jerks
2

transitive verb

1
: to cut indentations into
also : to form teeth on (a saw) by cutting indentations
2
chiefly dialectal : prick, stab
jagger noun

JAG

4 of 4

abbreviation

judge advocate general

Examples of jag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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
The guard said 'stand right here' and the Queen came by driving herself home from church in her jag [Jaguar car]. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024 There’s the deep sea portion—the Davy Jones’ Locker realm where only top-secret missions and movie directors on submarine jags dare venture. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Dec. 2024 Trump appears to go on posting jags, sometimes well after midnight, rattling off Truths multiple times a minute. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 Sep. 2024 Since its buying jag began, the company has filed suit in federal court against a group of families the firm purchased property from, seeking $510 million. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023 One bear, on a jag this spring, broke into multiple unlocked vehicles. Vanessa Arredondo, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023 Alcohol exacerbated Brian’s fragile disposition — leading to tantrums, meltdowns, car crashes, and crying jags. Elizabeth Winder, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2023 Music is a surefire way to stop a crying jag for some babies. Parents Editors, Parents, 7 June 2023 Bennani was on a research jag, obsessively learning about teleportation. New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021
Verb
In the summer of 2023, William Brown was taking on credit card debt as the cost of his rent and groceries jagged up. Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Feb. 2025 The slit was about eight feet wide, 60 feet high, and jagged all the way up. Fred Bear, Outdoor Life, 6 Apr. 2022 In August, Scott appeared at a town hall in Charleston, the beginning of a campaign jag across his home state. Robert Samuels, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023 The GOP impeachment jag alone may help swing some battleground districts to Democrats. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023 The boundary line drawn by the Republicans had jagged up from Superior to keep Endsley’s house in the district. Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Verb

Middle English jaggen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1578, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of jag was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jag. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

jag

1 of 2 noun
: a sharp pointed part

jag

2 of 2 noun
: spree
a crying jag

Legal Definition

JAG

abbreviation
judge advocate general

More from Merriam-Webster on jag

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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