1
: a widemouthed container made typically of earthenware or glass
a pottery jar
a cookie jar
2
: as much as a jar will hold
ate an entire jar of pickles
jarred; jarring
1
a
: to have a harshly disagreeable or disconcerting effect
The noise jarred on her nerves.
a jarring experience
b
: to make a harsh or discordant sound
winced as the iron gate jarred against the sidewalk
c
: to be out of harmony
a course that jarred with his habitual feelings—
George Eliot
George Eliot
specifically
: bicker
2
: to undergo severe vibration
1
a
: a sudden or unexpected shake
jars and jolts
b
: an unsettling shock
gave her nerves a jar
c
: an unpleasant break or conflict in rhythm, flow, or transition
works persistently, swiftly, without jar—Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis2
a
: a state or manifestation of discord or conflict
b
: a harsh grating sound
archaic
: the position of being ajar
—usually used in the phrase on the jar
Examples of jar in a Sentence
Verb
The loss jarred his confidence in the team.
The earthquake jarred the tiles loose.
The tiles jarred loose in the earthquake.
Noun (2)
this padded case should protect your laptop from the jars normally experienced while traveling
the flow of her day was interrupted with the jar of an unexpected crisis
the jar of a stuck car door
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 May 2025
Just in case, the company has placed a jar of Vegemite, a popular food spread in Australia, on Eris' third stage in a tongue-in-cheek nod to Aussie culture.
—ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025
Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
But at the time, some fans found the singing jarring against the emotional and traumatic storyline unfolding.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for jar
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
It’s made simply, starting with just two main ingredients: a block of cream cheese and a jar of olives.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 May 2025
Just in case, the company has placed a jar of Vegemite, a popular food spread in Australia, on Eris' third stage in a tongue-in-cheek nod to Aussie culture.
—ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025
Verb
Trump’s move to launch negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program also jarred Israel, which fears a deal that would not be strict enough to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon or rein in its support for regional militant groups.
—Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
But at the time, some fans found the singing jarring against the emotional and traumatic storyline unfolding.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for jar
Cite this Entry
“Jar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jar. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jar
1 of 3 verb
jarred; jarring
1
a
: to make a harsh or disagreeable sound
b
: to have a harsh or disagreeable effect
noise that jars the nerves
2
: to cause to vibrate : shake
3
: clash entry 1 sense 2b, conflict
jarring opinions
jar
2 of 3 nounjar
3 of 3 noun1
: a usually glass or pottery container having a wide mouth
2
: the quantity held by a jar
Etymology
Verb
probably an imitation of the sound made
Noun
from early French jarre "a container with a wide mouth," derived from Arabic jarrah "a pottery water container"
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