: 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
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2024
Made in Italy and emblazoned with the brand’s iconic zigzag motif, this gift will instantly elevate their bedtime rituals.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 17 Oct. 2024
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023
Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024
Essentially, the more eccentric the 'dance' – such as zigzagging or spiraling – the more chance the snowflake has of bumping into another ice crystal.
—New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zigzag 
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Noun
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
Made in Italy and emblazoned with the brand’s iconic zigzag motif, this gift will instantly elevate their bedtime rituals.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 17 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
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
Essentially, the more eccentric the 'dance' – such as zigzagging or spiraling – the more chance the snowflake has of bumping into another ice crystal.
—New Atlas, 10 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 17 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
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