rag

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈrag 

1

a

: a waste piece of cloth

b

rags plural : clothes usually in poor or ragged condition

c

: clothing

the rag trade

2

: something resembling a rag

3

: newspaper

especially : a sleazy newspaper

rag

2 of 5

noun (2)

1

: any of various hard rocks

2

: a large roofing slate that is rough on one side

rag

3 of 5

verb

ragged ˈragd  ; ragging

transitive verb

1

: to rail at : scold

2

: torment, tease

rag

4 of 5

noun (3)

chiefly British

: an outburst of boisterous fun

also : prank

rag

5 of 5

noun (4)

: a composition in ragtime

Phrases

rag on

: to make fun of

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• book
• bulletin
• diurnal
• gazette
• journal
• mag
• magazine
• newspaper
• organ
• paper
• periodical
• review
• serial
• zine

Verb

• baste
• bawl out
• berate
• call down
• castigate
• chastise
• chew out
• dress down
• flay
• hammer
• jaw
• keelhaul
• lambaste
• lambast
• lecture
• rail (at or against)
• rant (at)
• rate
• ream (out)
• rebuke
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• score
• tongue-lash
• upbraid

Noun (3)

• antic
• caper
• capriccio
• dido
• escapade
• frolic
• gag
• jest
• knavery
• monkeyshine(s)
• practical joke
• prank
• roguery
• shavie [Scottish]
• shine(s)
• trick
• waggery

Examples of rag in a Sentence

Verb

several readers called in to rag the editor for his paper's repeated grammatical lapses

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Annie Selkie has over 700 styles of natural sisal and jute, knotted wool, versatile indoor/outdoor rugs, and even leather rag rugs available online and in stores around the country. —Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2023

Then wipe down the outside of the windows with a wet rag. —Jennifer Barger, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2023

However, after the disinfectant dries, food-contact surfaces should typically be rinsed with a wet rag or paper towel. —Jessica Comstock, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023

According to the local rag, Gates was said to have bought the historic property through his Four Seasons real estate company and planned to turn the building into a luxury resort. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2023

If the ceiling is coated with paint or another finish that allows for scrubbing, spray the vinegar directly on the ceiling and wipe with a clean rag. —Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023

Once the cleaning process is complete, wipe the shoes with a clean, wet rag to eliminate any remaining dirt, debris, or cleaning solution. —Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2023

This convenient roll is easy to access with reusable, washable rags in a convenient tear-away roll. —Margaret Drake, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2023

Use a scrub brush, sponge, or clean rag to remove mold stains. —Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023

Verb

Even sportscasters appear to be run ragged by the probabilities. —John Otis, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2023

Finally, at the very end of the night, there was a quickly emptying Coliseum field dotted with giddy Huskies dancing around grim security guards, yet another team that showed up and ran the Trojans ragged. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023

Type 3 is smooth, soft, and sausage-shaped, while type 4 is slightly mushy and has ragged edges.6 Signs of Unhealthy Bowel Function Constipation and diarrhea are signs of bowel dysfunction and are both relatively common. —Elizabeth Pratt, Health, 20 Sep. 2023

Terhune is intimate with this working-class portrait of America, its fences, porch flags, televangelists, crop prices and ragged men wandering roads with cardboard signs. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2023

Good companions for early-flowering bulbs are late-sprouting perennials, so that by the time the bulbs are looking ragged and losing foliage for summer dormancy, the perennial is hiding it with fresh foliage. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2023

Dull blades tear the grass tips instead of making a clean cut, and those wounds increase the vulnerability of the grass to infection in addition to just making the lawn look a bit more ragged overall. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 3 Aug. 2023

Creeping types often become ragged in winter; if this happens, cut them back to the ground in late winter before spring growth begins. Species and Selections There are dozens of selections of thyme. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 30 June 2023

The new attack, unsurprisingly, looked ragged for much of OTAs and minicamp. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English ragge, from Old English *ragg, from Old Norse rǫgg tuft, shagginess

Noun (2)

Middle English ragge

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (4)

short for ragtime

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1825, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1881, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rag

• do-rag
• tag, rag, and bobtail
• the rag trade
• rag doll
• a red rag to a bull
• du-rag
• rag on
• chew the rag

• do-rag
• tag, rag, and bobtail
• the rag trade
• rag doll
• a red rag to a bull
• du-rag
• rag on
• chew the rag

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Kids Definition

rag

1 of 3 noun

ˈrag 

1

: a waste or worn piece of cloth

2

plural : shabby or very worn clothing

dressed in rags

3

: newspaper

especially : a low quality newspaper

rag

2 of 3 verb

ragged; ragging

1

: to rail at : scold

2

: torment sense 2, tease

rag

3 of 3 noun

: a composition in ragtime

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown