jet

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
a
: an airplane powered by one or more jet engines
2
: a long narrow current of high-speed winds (such as a jet stream)
3
a(1)
: a usually forceful stream of fluid (such as water or gas) discharged from a narrow opening or a nozzle
(2)
: a narrow stream of material (such as plasma) emanating or appearing to emanate from a celestial object (such as a radio galaxy)
b
: a nozzle for a jet of fluid
4
: something issuing as if in a jet
talk poured from her in a brilliant jetTime
jetlike adjective

jet

2 of 5

verb (1)

jetted; jetting

intransitive verb

1
: to travel by jet airplane
2
: to move or progress by or as if by jet propulsion

jet

3 of 5

verb (2)

jetted; jetting

intransitive verb

: to spout forth : gush

transitive verb

: to emit in a stream : spout

jet

4 of 5

noun (2)

1
: an intense black
2
: a compact velvet-black coal that takes a good polish and is often used for jewelry

jet

5 of 5

adjective

: of the color jet

Examples of jet in a Sentence

Noun (1) bought a new showerhead that emits a superpowerful jet of water Verb (2) water jetting out of opened fire hydrants at a dangerously high rate the volcano has been jetting out fiery lava in life-threatening amounts the presidential candidates jetted through the state for a week before racing off to the next primary
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
In a further sign of growing Sino-Nigerian relations, Abuja is considering certifying China’s C919 commercial jet for use, Bloomberg reported. Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 29 Sep. 2025 The training, announced by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on September 22, included the J-15T heavy fighter jet and the KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
Over the summer the actress hit the desert and jetted to the islands with her boyfriend Van Hunt and wore an array of bikinis for their excursions. Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 As per Union’s Instagram, the couple jetted in for some serious R&R over the weekend. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Like the CudaJet, Kikfin's wearable puts a multi-jet array on your back to power you to faster speeds under the surface of the sea. New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2025 The circuit itself is an adventure in contrast therapy, including steam, a cool, multi-jet shower and various dips in the spa’s (again child-free) pools ranging in temperature from cool to warm. Margaux Lushing, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jet

Word History

Etymology

Verb (2)

French jeter, literally, to throw, from Old French, from Latin jactare to throw, frequentative of jacere to throw; akin to Greek hienai to send

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French jaiet, from Latin gagates, from Greek gagatēs, from Gagas, town and river in Asia Minor

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 3a(1)

Verb (1)

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1692, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Cite this Entry

“Jet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jet. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

jet

1 of 4 noun
1
: a compact black coal that takes a good polish and is often used for jewelry
2
: a very dark black

jet

2 of 4 verb
jetted; jetting

jet

3 of 4 noun
1
a
: a forceful rush of liquid, gas, or vapor especially through a narrow opening or a nozzle
b
: a nozzle for a jet of fluid (as gas or water)
2

jet

4 of 4 verb
jetted; jetting
: to travel by jet airplane
Etymology

Noun

Middle English jet "black mineral," from early French jaiet (same meaning), derived from Greek gagatēs (same meaning), from Gagas, a town and river in Asia Minor

Verb

from early French jeter, literally "to throw," from Latin jactare "to throw"

More from Merriam-Webster on jet

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