wagon

noun wag·on \ ˈwa-gən \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Examples: wagon in a Sentence

Definition of wagon

1 a : a usually four-wheeled vehicle for transporting bulky commodities and drawn originally by animals

b : a lighter typically horse-drawn vehicle for transporting goods or passengers

c : paddy wagon

2 British : a railway freight car

3 : a low four-wheeled vehicle with an open rectangular body and a retroflex tongue made for the play or use of a child

4 : a small wheeled table used for the service of a dining room

the dessert wagon

5 : a delivery truck

a milk wagon

6 : station wagon

— off the wagon

: in or into a state of no longer abstaining from alcoholic beverages

fell off the wagon

— on the wagon

: in or into a state of abstaining from alcoholic beverages

See wagon defined for English-language learners

See wagon defined for kids

Examples of wagon in a Sentence

Pioneers crossed the American Midwest in wagons.
He pulled his stuffed animals around in a little red wagon.

Recent Examples of wagon from the Web

That defensive, circle-the-wagons approach to Israel on the part of the Jewish Establishment was on full display in the summer of 2014.

— abraham riesman, Daily Intelligencer, "Can the young activists of IfNotNow change the conversation about Israel and the Palestinians, or will their contradictions hold them back?," 12 July 2018
The children's parade involved one wagon, two bikes and a tricycle.

— lizzy acker, OregonLive.com, "The Rose Festival Junior Parade turns 100," 21 May 2018
Drag ‘Elsa’ just single-handedly pushed out a stuck police wagon.

— christie d'zurilla, latimes.com, "'Queen Elsa' from 'Frozen' comes to the rescue during a Boston snowstorm," 14 Mar. 2018
The trail follows an old wagon road paralleling the creek.

— roger naylor, azcentral, "10 best hikes in Arizona show off state's diverse scenery," 13 July 2018
Jordan has denied any knowledge, and his allies have circled the wagons to defend him.

— jen kirby, Vox, "Jim Jordan and the Ohio State sexual abuse controversy, explained," 7 July 2018
General Motors has just introduced a wagon version of the Buick Regal premium sedan, and Volkswagen has its Golf Sportswagen.

— star-telegram, "Jaguar introduces the XF Sportbrakefor 2018, bringing a wagon to the U.S.," 17 June 2018
Comcast and Disney are circling the wagons to fight over the bulk of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, which already includes 39 percent of Sky.

— BostonGlobe.com, "UK clears way for bidding war between Comcast and Disney over Sky," 5 June 2018
Steer horns, assorted bottles, a wagon wheel, and even rusty vintage firearms were recovered from the grotto floor in 1995—akin to a La Brea tar pit for the pioneer set.

— Sunset, "Go on a Hot Springs Adventure in the Utah Desert," 22 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wagon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of wagon

Dutch wagen, from Middle Dutch — more at wain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

wagon Synonyms

Synonyms

cart, wain;

Related Words

dray, jolt-wagon [Midland], oxcart, spring wagon, wagonette;

barrow, hand truck, pushcart, tram, truck, wheelbarrow;

wagon

verb

Definition of wagon

wagoned; wagoning; wagons

intransitive verb

: to travel or transport goods by wagon

transitive verb

: to transport (goods) by wagon

Recent Examples of wagon from the Web

The farm's dozens of other attractions, from a train and giant jumping pillows to wagon rides to a pumpkin patch, give it almost amusement-park status.

— chelsey lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Get lost! In one of 10 winding Wisconsin corn mazes," 12 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of wagon

1606

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

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WAGON Defined for English Language Learners

wagon

noun

Definition of wagon for English Language Learners

: a vehicle with four wheels that is used for carrying heavy loads or passengers and that is usually pulled by animals (such as horses)
: a small, low vehicle with four wheels that children play with
: a railway car that carries goods