: 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
Maggie Horton, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Pope is one that needs to grow into his own shoes and stop the unhelpful chatter about his own zigzag scores.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023
Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024
Trump successfully zigzagged his way through the thorny 2016 primary like a teflon-coated sheet.
—Philip Elliott / Detroit, TIME, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zigzag 
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Noun
Its powerful suction picks up pet hair, spills, dirt, and debris with ease, while its zigzag mapping function makes sure nothing gets left behind.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Pope is one that needs to grow into his own shoes and stop the unhelpful chatter about his own zigzag scores.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 11 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
As the pendulums swing, this point will trace out a zigzagging path through the space.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024
Trump successfully zigzagged his way through the thorny 2016 primary like a teflon-coated sheet.
—Philip Elliott / Detroit, TIME, 19 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 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
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