1
: a concealed or unexpected difficulty or obstacle
2
a
: an irregularity that suggests the result of tearing
especially
: a pulled thread in fabric
a snag in her stocking
b
: a jagged tear made by or as if by catching on a snag
3
: a rough sharp or jagged projecting part : protuberance: such as
a
: a projecting tooth
also
: a stump of a tooth
b
: one of the secondary branches of an antler
4
a
: a standing dead tree
b
: a tree or branch embedded in a lake or stream bed and constituting a hazard to navigation
snagged; snagging
1
a
: to catch and usually damage on or as if on a snag
b
: to halt or impede as if by catching on a snag
2
: to catch or obtain usually by quick action or good fortune
3
: to hew, trim, or cut roughly or jaggedly
4
: to clear (something, such as a river) of snags
Examples of snag in a Sentence
Noun
I caught my sleeve on a snag and tore it.
My sweater has a snag where I caught it on a nail.
Verb
I snagged my favorite sweater on a nail.
The shortstop snagged the grounder.
The police snagged the suspect as he was trying to run away.
I managed to snag the information I needed from the Internet.
Can I snag a ride from you?
Recent Examples on the Web
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 12 July 2025
Gatling then lofted the ball a bit in front of Hines, who made a finger-tip snag as his momentum carried him out of the field of play.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2025
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 11 July 2025
In fact, Prime members can snag this $400 stick vacuum with an impressive motor speed of 85,000 revolutions per minute for a whopping 73 percent off now.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for snag
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Noun
While Sands needed just 19 pitches to cruise through the first two innings, Burrows had two Twins on base in the first inning, then hit a serious snag in the second.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 12 July 2025
Gatling then lofted the ball a bit in front of Hines, who made a finger-tip snag as his momentum carried him out of the field of play.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2025
Verb
Don’t miss this opportunity to snag a great price on Anne Hathaway’s date-night bag from JW Pei and Bogg bags, both of which have cult followings and very rarely go on sale.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 11 July 2025
In fact, Prime members can snag this $400 stick vacuum with an impressive motor speed of 85,000 revolutions per minute for a whopping 73 percent off now.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for snag
Cite this Entry
“Snag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snag. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snag
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a tree or branch when stuck underwater and not visible from the surface
b
: a standing dead tree
2
: an uneven or broken part sticking out from a smooth surface
caught my sweater on a snag
3
: a concealed or unexpected difficulty
our plans hit a snag
snag
2 of 2 verb
snagged; snagging
: to catch on or as if on a snag
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