sag

1 of 3

verb

ˈsag 

sagged; sagging

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

ˈsag 

Screen Actors Guild

Synonyms of sag

Verb

• droop
• hang

Noun

• slack
• slackness
• droop
• hang

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

Verb

China’s surging shipments are much more than just surplus production, the difference between what comes out of Chinese factories and what can be sold domestically in a sagging economy. — semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026

In the grayness that should have been sunrise that morning, dark clouds sagged baggily over the very treetops, bulging as if ready to split under their liquid weight. — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Noun

But the bigger concern was inside, where two steel columns had buckled on the 21st floor, causing floors above to sag. — Aziza Shuler, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Even as overall sales sag, $1 million-and-up sales are remaining strong in Broward. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for sag

• ag
• bag
• brag
• dag
• drag
• flag
• gag
• hag
• hagg
• lag
• mag
• nag

Kids Definition

sag

1 of 2 verb

ˈsag 

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