drag

1 of 3

noun

plural drags
1
: something used to drag (see drag entry 2) with
especially : a device for dragging under water to detect or obtain objects
2
: something that is dragged, pulled, or drawn along or over a surface: such as
a
agriculture : harrow
b
: a sledge (see sledge entry 3 sense 2) for conveying heavy bodies
3
a
: the act or an instance of dragging or drawing: such as
(1)
: a drawing along or over a surface with effort or pressure
(2)
: motion effected with slowness or difficulty
also : the condition of having or seeming to have such motion
(3)
: a draw on a pipe, cigarette, or cigar
took a drag on his cigar
also : a draft (see draft entry 1 sense 2b) of liquid
b
: something (such as slowness of movement or sagging) caused by or as if by dragging
(snooker) "Played it with drag as well, Dennis. I mean absolutely beautifully played, that was: drag on the cue ball so once it's made contact with the object ball there's hardly any life left on it. …"John Parrott
(geology) Friction along a fault surface may cause the rock layers adjacent to the fault to be bent or folded. … Such folding of the rocks abutting a fault is called dragW. John Nelson
c
dated slang : influence securing special favor : pull
"If you've got a drag with old Macy, maybe he'll raise you," was Charley's disheartening reply. "But he didn't raise me till I'd been here nearly two years."F. Scott Fitzgerald
4
a
: something that slows or impedes motion, action, or advancement
Bringing up the rear was the drag, the worst position in the line [of a herd of cattle]. Drag riders had to make sure the weakest members of the herd kept pace, while breathing all the dust kicked up by the entire herd.Vic Kovacs
b(1)
physics : the slowing force acting on a body (such as an airplane) moving through a fluid (such as air) parallel and opposite to the direction of motion
(2)
mechanical engineering : friction (see friction sense 1b) between engine parts
also : a slowing due to friction
c
: burden, encumbrance
the drag of population growth on living standards
d
: one that is boring or gets in the way of enjoyment
thinks studying is a drag
5
hunting
a
: an object drawn over the ground to leave a scented trail
b
: a clog (see clog entry 1 sense 1a) fastened to a trap to prevent the escape of a trapped animal
6
: street, road
the main drag
7
a
: entertainment in which performers caricature or challenge gender stereotypes (as by dressing in clothing that is stereotypical of another gender, by using exaggeratedly gendered mannerisms, or by combining elements of stereotypically male and female dress) and often wear elaborate or outrageous costumes
"… Atlanta … was, like, mecca for drag. It had the traditional drag queens who were female impersonators. But, you know, I had come from the punk rock side of the tracks, and we did drag as a social comment …"RuPaul
often used before another noun
Drag shows are events where performers impersonate characters from a certain gender and often don elaborate costuming and makeup.Lauren Wavra
The drama sparked a conversation within the LGBTQ community regarding trans, female, and nonbinary drag performers.Xavier Piedra
see also drag king, drag queen
b(1)
: the costumes worn by drag performers
performing in drag
also : stereotypically gendered clothing worn by someone who is of a different gender
… writing about her first experience using the men's toilets while in male dragAnna Carey
(2)
: costume
What was perhaps most embarrassing about Cyrus' dismal gig was its cutesy toys—a giant teddy bear from which she popped to cavort with a dance troupe in fuzzy bear drag.Camille Paglia
especially : a costume used to impersonate a person or kind of person
… Paul Newman and Robert Redford romping about in bad-guy drag like naughty Hardy Boys ain't my idea of a western. Mark Goodman
8
sports : drag race

drag

2 of 3

verb

dragged; dragging; drags

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to draw or pull slowly or heavily : haul
dragging a box down the hall
(2)
: to cause to move with slowness or difficulty
dragged myself up the stairs
dragging his feet
(3)
: to cause to trail (see trail entry 1 sense 1a) along a surface
wandered off dragging the leash
b(1)
: to bring by or as if by force or compulsion
dragging the kids to the grocery store
(2)
: to extract by or as if by pulling
drag the truth out of him
c
: protract
drag a story out
2
a
: to pass a drag over
drag a field
b
: to explore with a drag
drag the pond for the drowning victim
c
hunting and fishing : to catch with a dragnet (see dragnet sense 1)
3
baseball : to hit (a drag bunt) while moving toward first base
4
computers : to select and move (an item on a computer screen) by using a mouse, a touch screen, etc.
drag the icon to the bottom row
Drag and drop any image into the search box on images.google.com to help determine whether a photo is fake.Laura Anastasia and Mary Kate Frank

intransitive verb

1
: to hang or lag behind
Stop dragging and hurry up.
2
: to fish or search with a drag (see drag entry 1 sense 1)
3
: to trail along on the ground
Your scarf is dragging.
4
a
: to move slowly because of fatigue
was dragging after the long trip
b
: to proceed or continue laboriously or tediously
The lawsuit dragged on for years.
5
: draw sense 4a
drag on a cigarette
6
: to make a plucking or pulling movement
7
sports : to participate in a drag race
draggingly adverb

drag

3 of 3

adjective

: of, being, involving, or intended for a person wearing clothing typical of the opposite sex : of, being, involving, or intended for a person in drag (see drag entry 1 sense 7b(1))
a drag ball
Phrases
drag one's feet or less commonly drag one's heels
: to act in a deliberately slow or dilatory manner

Examples of drag in a Sentence

Noun My parents can be such a drag. They won't let me do anything. These meetings are a total drag. Let me have a drag from your cigarette. He took a long drag on the cigarette. Verb She dragged one of the other tables over to ours. Firefighters dragged the man to safety. One of the parents eventually dragged the screaming toddler out of the store. The broken muffler dragged behind the car. The dog's leash was dragging along the ground. The child is always dragging his blanket. The puppy ran up to us, dragging her leash behind her. He dragged himself up the stairs and climbed into bed. Can you drag yourself away from that computer?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The idea was that the smaller front wheels would reduce drag without sacrificing traction. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 Some economists argue that China’s advances in these select industries will not be enough to make up for the drag caused by a fall in consumer confidence, and by developers and local governments straining under debt. Chris Buckley, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Your drag started as more punk and has changed over the years. David Oliver, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 The show opens with performances from D.C. drag queens Cake Pop, Crystal Edge and more, and ends with disco house beats by New York’s DJ Boyyyish. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 The drag of external pylons, weapons, sensors or fuel tanks is not the only limiting factor in the EX’ ultimate dash speed. Eric Tegler, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The density of air, which changes based on solar activity, affects the drag experienced by objects passing through Earth’s atmosphere. Denise Chow, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2024 Surf shops line the main drag; cover-ups count as appropriate lunch attire; and nobody takes themselves too seriously. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2024 Analysts say the low annual limit for H-1B temporary visas is an economic drag on sectors that need skilled professionals, including technology, health care and manufacturing. Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
Taken in total, the incidents paint Myers as a confrontational and litigious man who sometimes has been praised for his aggressive style of journalism, though that same attribute has often landed him in contentious legal run-ins that have dragged on for years. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 As the conflict in Gaza has dragged on and pressure has grown from within his party to rein in Israel, Biden’s criticism has become more vocal. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 But as the war drags on and Moscow tries to turn the city into a model of Russification, Mariupol’s fate risks slipping away from the world’s consciousness. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Chutkan tossed out the March 4 date as the immunity appeal dragged on. Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 When most of the surface is covered with food coloring, drag a bamboo skewer across the top of the shaving cream to swirl and marble the colors. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024 The sites being considered, which are in essential fish habitat conservation areas, are already protected from bottom trawling, which involves dragging a fishing net along the bottom of the ocean. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The idea of third places as potential work environments became popular as the pandemic dragged on, when desk workers searched for a middle ground between being cooped up at home all day, and returning to offices that no longer felt relevant. Trey Williams, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Those negotiations dragged on too long for Congress to have spending legislation completed before federal funding expires this weekend. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2024
Adjective
That kind of lighthearted public exuberance has become unthinkable in the past two years, as drag has become a culture-war flash point, and half a dozen states, including Texas, have passed anti-drag legislation. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2023 And RuPaul’s Drag Race star Trixie Mattel shattered boundaries as the first drag queen to perform at Stagecoach (an especially important appearance as states like Tennessee continue to introduce anti-drag legislation). Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2023 Although the most restrictive of these bills has recently been overturned, the future remains murky, with drag bars and drag-queen story hours around the country targeted by demonstrators and vigilantes. Harper's BAZAAR, 27 June 2023 City Winery will also be separately hosting a drag brunch benefit — which, technically, could fall afoul of Tennessee’s new anti-drag law, since the venue is within 1,000 feet of a church… as is nearly every venue in the famously church-riddled city. Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Mar. 2023 However, a day before the nation's first anti-drag law was set to take effect, a federal judge temporarily blocked it for violating the First Amendment. Roman Feeser, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2023 Texas currently has two anti-drag bills under consideration. Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Apr. 2023 Lee has faced criticism for approving the anti-drag show law, particularly since a photo surfaced of him as a high school senior dressed in women’s clothing in 1977. Kimberlee Kruesi, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Apr. 2023 As anti-drag bills make their way through the Texas Legislature and plenty of attacks target everything from athletics to health care for individuals from children to adults, now's a tough time to be transgender in the Lone Star State. Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drag.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

Middle English dragge, probably from Middle Low German draggen grapnel; akin to Old English dragan to draw — more at draw

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drag was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near drag

Cite this Entry

“Drag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drag. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

drag

1 of 2 noun
1
: a device for dragging under water to detect or gather objects
2
: something without wheels (as a sledge for carrying heavy loads) that is dragged, pulled, or drawn along or over a surface
3
a
: the act or an instance of dragging or drawing
b
: a draw on a pipe, cigarette, or cigar : puff
also : a drink of liquid
4
a
: something that slows down motion
b
: the force acting on a body (as an airplane) to slow it down as the body moves through a fluid (as air)
c
: something that hinders or obstructs progress
5
: someone or something boring
6
: street sense 1, road
the main drag

drag

2 of 2 verb
dragged; dragging
1
a
: to haul slowly or heavily
dragging the suitcase across the room
b
: to move with slowness or difficulty
dragged myself up the stairs
c
: to bring by or as if by force
dragged them to the opera
d
: to pass or cause to pass slowly
the day dragged on
2
: to hang or lag behind
3
: to trail along on the ground
4
: to search or fish with a drag
5
: to take part in a drag race
6
: to move (an item on a computer screen) using a mouse
draggingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on drag

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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