sag

1 of 3

verb

sagged; sagging
Synonyms of sagnext

intransitive verb

1
: to droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
2
a
: to lose firmness, resiliency, or vigor
spirits sagging from overwork
b
: to decline especially from a thriving state
3
: drift
4
: to fail to stimulate or retain interest

transitive verb

: to cause to sag : leave slack in

sag

2 of 3

noun

1
: a tendency to drift (as of a ship to leeward)
2
a
: a sagging part
the sag in a rope
b
: a drop or depression below the surrounding area
c
: an instance or amount of sagging
3
: a temporary decline (as in the price of a commodity)

SAG

3 of 3

abbreviation

Screen Actors Guild

Examples of sag in a Sentence

Verb The roof is sagging in the middle. The economy began to sag. As all our efforts failed, our spirits sagged. Noun if there's too much sag in the rod, the curtains will drag on the floor
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.
Verb
Others have reported more unglamorous side effects like gastrointestinal distress, shrinking muscle mass and sagging skin from the weight loss. Renée Onque, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026 The first shot was a 3-pointer courtesy of James – to take a 107-106 lead – who found the 6-foot-3 shooting guard alone in the corner as Mathurin sagged away from the guard who had yet to attempt a shot. Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
Too much moisture and humidity can cause composite wood to swell, warp, or sag. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026 For example, over their first three games together, teams haven’t run much drop coverage (when the screener’s defender sags back toward the basket) against the Harden-Allen pick-and-roll. Fred Katz, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sag

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English saggen; akin to Middle Low German sacken to sink, Norwegian dialect sakka

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sag. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

sag

1 of 2 verb
sagged; sagging
1
: to droop or sink below the normal or right level
2
: to become less firm or strong
saggy
ˈsag-ē
adjective

sag

2 of 2 noun
1
: a sagging part or area
the sag in a rope
2
: an instance or amount of sagging

More from Merriam-Webster on sag

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster