jockey

verb

jockeyed; jockeying

transitive verb

1

a

: to maneuver or manipulate by adroit or devious means

was jockeyed out of the job

b

: to change the position of by a series of movements

jockey a truck into position

2

a

: to ride or drive (a horse) as a jockey

b

: drive, operate

3

: to deal shrewdly or fraudulently with

intransitive verb

1

: to maneuver for advantage

—often used in the phrase jockey for position

2

: to act as a jockey

Examples of jockey in a Sentence

There was a lot of political jockeying at the fund-raiser.

The driver carefully jockeyed the truck into a narrow space in the crowded parking lot.

Recent Examples on the Web

This would particularly come into play on a corner kick when players are often jockeying for position. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026

Becerra, Hilton and Steyer are jockeying for the top two spots. —Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 31 May 2026

Officials at the Air Resources Board then spent the last several months drafting and revising the plan voted on this week, which received considerable feedback from oil and gas companies, environmental groups, lobbyists and lawmakers all jockeying for different priorities. —Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026

SpaceX is jockeying to be selected by NASA for the lunar mission too, and may emerge as the only remaining option to meet an ambitious schedule. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing jockey

• bench jockey
• desk jockey
• disc jockey
• disk jockey
• jockey club
• jockey for position

Rhymes for jockey

• blocky
• chalky
• cocky
• gawky
• hockey
• khaki
• machi
• maki
• rocky
• stocky
• talkie
• walkie

Kids Definition

jockey

1 of 2 noun

jock·​ey ˈjäk-ē 

plural jockeys

1

: one who rides a horse especially as a professional in a race

2

: one who operates something

a gas-pump jockey

jockey

2 of 2 verb

jockeyed; jockeying

1

: to ride a horse as a jockey

2

: to move or manage skillfully or cleverly or so as to gain advantage

jockey a truck into position

jockeying for position