rag

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈrag 

1

a

: a waste piece of cloth

b

rags plural : clothes usually in poor or ragged condition

c

: clothing

the rag trade

2

: something resembling a rag

3

: newspaper

especially : a sleazy newspaper

rag

2 of 5

noun (2)

1

: any of various hard rocks

2

: a large roofing slate that is rough on one side

rag

3 of 5

verb

ragged ˈragd  ; ragging

transitive verb

1

: to rail at : scold

2

: torment, tease

rag

4 of 5

noun (3)

chiefly British

: an outburst of boisterous fun

also : prank

rag

5 of 5

noun (4)

: a composition in ragtime

Phrases

rag on

: to make fun of

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• book
• bulletin
• diurnal
• gazette
• journal
• mag
• magazine
• newspaper
• organ
• paper
• periodical
• review
• serial
• zine

Verb

• baste
• bawl out
• berate
• call down
• castigate
• chastise
• chew out
• dress down
• flay
• hammer
• jaw
• keelhaul
• lambaste
• lambast
• lecture
• rail (at or against)
• rant (at)
• rate
• ream (out)
• rebuke
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• score
• tongue-lash
• upbraid

Noun (3)

• antic
• caper
• capriccio
• dido
• escapade
• frolic
• gag
• jest
• knavery
• monkeyshine(s)
• practical joke
• prank
• roguery
• shavie [Scottish]
• shine(s)
• trick
• waggery

Examples of rag in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the local rag publishes more gossip than news

the girls showed up at the prom wearing their most elegant rags

Verb

several readers called in to rag the editor for his paper's repeated grammatical lapses

Noun (3)

a collegiate rag that nearly got him sent down from Oxford

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For disinfecting pruning shears between plants, use 70% rubbing alcohol, either sprayed or applied thoroughly with a rag. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2025

To clean the interior, use a vacuum attachment to remove crumbs, then wipe them out with the same rag. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2024

Verb

Advertisement The two men, ragged and sleepless, belongings jammed into two battered pick-ups, were regrouping Wednesday morning in La Cañada Flintridge, a few miles northwest of Altadena. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025

But throwing a few too many alcoholic drinks into the mix can leave you feeling ragged and regretful the next day. —Rosanna Sutherby, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English ragge, from Old English *ragg, from Old Norse rǫgg tuft, shagginess

Noun (2)

Middle English ragge

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (4)

short for ragtime

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1825, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1881, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rag

• a red rag to a bull
• chew the rag
• do-rag
• du-rag
• rag doll
• rag on
• tag, rag, and bobtail
• the rag trade

Kids Definition

rag

1 of 3 noun

ˈrag 

1

: a waste or worn piece of cloth

2

plural : shabby or very worn clothing

dressed in rags

3

: newspaper

especially : a low quality newspaper

rag

2 of 3 verb

ragged; ragging

1

: to rail at : scold

2

: torment sense 2, tease

rag

3 of 3 noun

: a composition in ragtime

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown