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
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2026
Glendale Community College's commencement ceremonies hit a snag just as students were walking across the stage to get their diplomas last week.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 20 May 2026
Dan Albano, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
The space is cleverly carved into distinct zones to protect your peace—snag a cabana away from the kid splash-zone but still close enough to the bar's energy.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for snag
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Noun
Jessica Sanders, the executive director of Sacramento Tree Foundation, said stumps could be used as habitats for snags, owls or other wildlife.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2026
Glendale Community College's commencement ceremonies hit a snag just as students were walking across the stage to get their diplomas last week.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 20 May 2026
Verb
In the third, La Mirada used a single and two walks to load the bases with two outs but Escobar escaped when shortstop Angie Jimenez snagged a line drive.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
The space is cleverly carved into distinct zones to protect your peace—snag a cabana away from the kid splash-zone but still close enough to the bar's energy.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for snag
Cite this Entry
“Snag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snag. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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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