: 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
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Designer Laura Gonzalez brings Parisian flair to the coast in four suites, and there’s a famous Missoni suite bedecked in the fashion brand’s signature outlandish zigzag furnishings.
—Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Other countries’ biggest soccer fans zigzag the globe every four years, so why should this summer be different?
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zigzag
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Noun
Explore and discover Inside the stacks, zigzag shelves allow some of the books to be judged by their covers rather than by their spines.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Designer Laura Gonzalez brings Parisian flair to the coast in four suites, and there’s a famous Missoni suite bedecked in the fashion brand’s signature outlandish zigzag furnishings.
—Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026
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
Descend its famously crooked path, flanked by cascading hydrangeas and storybook Edwardian homes—then watch cars zigzag through eight tight switchbacks while tourists crowd the sidewalks, snapping photos of its surreal descent.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Other countries’ biggest soccer fans zigzag the globe every four years, so why should this summer be different?
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zigzag
Cite this Entry
“Zigzag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zigzag. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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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