jar

1 of 4

noun (1)

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
jarful noun

jar

2 of 4

verb

jarred; jarring

intransitive verb

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 feelingsGeorge Eliot
specifically : bicker
2
: to undergo severe vibration

transitive verb

: to cause to jar: such as
a
: to affect disagreeably : unsettle
The violent opposition jarred his resolve.
b
: to make unstable or loose : shake
jar the ball free

jar

3 of 4

noun (2)

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 jarSinclair Lewis
2
a
: a state or manifestation of discord or conflict
b
: a harsh grating sound

jar

4 of 4

noun (3)

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Put the lid on the jar, and store it in the fridge until ready to eat. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024 The porcelain jars were part of a German family collection for more than a century before going under the hammer today. George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
It’s supposed to jar us, supposed to move us, supposed to rupture us — to open you up, to connect the dots to any kind of global issue. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024 The Sea Kings then got huge momentum boost when linebacker Breck Clemmer delivered a solid hit on Herr, jarring the ball loose. Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for jar 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French jarre, from Old Occitan jarra, from Arabic jarra earthen water vessel

Verb and Noun (2)

probably of imitative origin

Noun (3)

alteration of earlier char turn, from Middle English — more at chare

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1b

Noun (2)

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun (3)

1674, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jar was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near jar

Cite this Entry

“Jar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jar. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids 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 noun
1
: a harsh sound
2
3
4
: a painful effect : shock

jar

3 of 3 noun
1
: 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"

More from Merriam-Webster on jar

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