zag

1 of 2

noun

ˈzag 

1

a

: one of the sharp turns, angles, or alterations in a zigzag course

b

: one of the short straight lines or sections of a zigzag course at an angle to a zig

2

: zig sense 2

zag

2 of 2

verb

zagged; zagging

intransitive verb

: to execute a zag

—usually contrasted with zig

Synonyms

Verb

• break
• cut
• sheer
• swerve
• veer
• yaw
• zig

Examples of zag in a Sentence

Verb

the crowd roared as the clown on the bicycle zagged while the other clowns, in hot pursuit, zigged

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As a result, the trajectory toward the moon (and beyond) zigs and zags. —Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

The swoops of cucumber tendrils and the zags of carnation leaves are examples of inherent, ubiquitous plant movements called circumnutations – from the Latin circum, meaning circle, and nutare, meaning to nod. —Chantal Nguyen, The Conversation, 13 Sep. 2024

Verb

Runners zip and zag among the tables, bearing teetering stacks of bamboo steamer trays, shedding the vertical layers table by table. —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2024

There are plenty of very good interviews, and the case zigs and zags with an engaging sense of mounting unease. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

zigzag

First Known Use

Noun

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1900, in the meaning defined above