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

But that first 1950s iteration, played by both a puppet and a man lumbering in a baggy costume, had dead Muppet eyes and the sagging physique of a gym teacher. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

Tech stocks have sagged as investors grow concerned over their ballooning debt piles at a time of rising interest rates. — semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Noun

Using one of the best skin-tightening creams can help, by providing some sculpting and lifting benefits to areas that sag (think turkey neck or cellulite). — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 26 Oct. 2026

Perhaps inevitably, the narrative sags in places due to tangential flashbacks and extended episodes and exchanges in which every detail, action, gesture, and impulse are recorded. — Malcolm Forbes, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 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