: a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height, held momentarily, and then quickly thrust overhead usually with a lunge or a spring from the legs compare press, snatch
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With most large-scale national and world meets there are medals given for the heaviest snatch, heaviest clean and jerk and best overall total.—Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026 People with large amounts of those explosive, fast-twitch muscle fibers may pack a powerful punch or hoist a massive clean and jerk.—Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024 Reeves lifted 117 kilograms (390 pounds) in the snatch and 145kg (320 pounds) in the clean and jerk for a total of 262kg to beat Mari Leivis Sanchez of Colombia by five kilograms in the women's 71kg division.—CBS News, 9 Aug. 2024 After finishing the snatch session in fifth, Morris' podium chances rested on his clean and jerks.—NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for clean and jerk