jink

verb \ ˈjiŋk \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Examples: jink in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of jink

jinked; jinking; jinks

intransitive verb

: to move quickly or unexpectedly with sudden turns and shifts (as in dodging)

jink was our Word of the Day on 08/16/2014. Hear the podcast!

Examples of jink in a Sentence

jinking here and there with remarkable agility, the thieving urchin frustrated all attempts to catch him

Recent Examples of jink from the Web

The Algerian jinked for space on the right side and cut back onto his left foot, before curling a wonderful cross to the back post.

— SI.com, "Leicester 1-0 Sheffield United: Vardy's Header the Difference as Foxes Fly Into FA Cup Last 8," 16 Feb. 2018
Butragueno was now toying with the Danish defence, turning and jinking.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 8 Weeks to Go - Emilio 'the Vulture' Butragueño Picks Apart Denmark," 29 Apr. 2018
The fourth goal came from the same source–a long ball flicked on with his heel by Trent Alexander-Arnold for Salah, who jinked by Jesus and crossed for Firmino to tap in his 50th Liverpool goal.

— jonathan wilson, SI.com, "Salah, Liverpool Overwhelm Roma, But Leave Door Open for Another UCL Comeback," 24 Apr. 2018
Bolasie jinked inside, curled a cross towards the far post for Walcott and Bong, in an attempt to prevent the forward notching, guided the ball past Ryan.

— SI.com, "Everton Ends Brighton's Unbeaten Run in Dominant Goodison Display," 10 Mar. 2018
But Watford was back in front two minutes later as Daryl Janmaat collected the ball on the right before jinking into the box, exchanging passes with Roberto Pereyra and keeping his cool to finish past Courtois.

— USA TODAY, "Chelsea's Premier League struggles continue in rout to Watford," 5 Feb. 2018
Mkhitaryan played in Ozil, who jinked his way through and saw his shot burst through the hands of the hapless Keita and bobble into the net.

— jed court/afp, chicagotribune.com, "Arsenal rout Ostersunds, Batshuayi leads Dortmund comeback in Europa League," 15 Feb. 2018
Philippe Coutinho, from a jinking solo run, and Dejan Lovren had already netted in the opening 26 minutes and Salah's goal put Liverpool 3-0 ahead at halftime.

— USA TODAY, "Salah reaches 20 goals as Liverpool thrashes Bournemouth 4-0," 17 Dec. 2017
Charlie Daniels' inside pass found King in space and, after the striker had driven infield and jinked past Mason Holgate's challenge, arrowed a right foot effort past Pickford into the bottom right hand corner.

— SI.com, "Niasse Spares Everton's Blushes in Testy Encounter," 23 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jink.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The investigation into the origins of jink begins with documents from 18th century Scotland. Unfortunately, they contain no clear indication of how this shifty little word was formed. What can be said with certainty is that the word has always expressed a quick or unexpected motion. For instance, in two poems from 1785, Robert Burns uses the verb to indicate both the quick motion of a fiddler's elbow and the sudden disappearance of a cheat around a corner. In the 20th century, the verb caught on with air force pilots and rugby players, who began using it to describe their elusive maneuvers to dodge opponents and enemies. Jink can also be used as a noun meaning "a quick evasive turn" or, in its plural form, "pranks." (Etymologists are quite certain that the latter use is connected with the term high jinks.)