wag

1 of 3

verb

ˈwag 

wagged; wagging

intransitive verb

1

: to be in motion : stir

2

: to move to and fro or up and down especially with quick jerky motions

3

: to move in chatter or gossip

scandal caused tongues to wag

4

archaic : depart

5

: waddle

transitive verb

1

: to swing to and fro or up and down especially with quick jerky motions : switch

a dog wagging its tail

specifically : to nod (the head) or shake (a finger) at (as in assent or mild reproof)

2

: to move (the tongue) animatedly in conversation

wagger noun

wag

2 of 3

noun (1)

: an act of wagging : shake

wag

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: wit, joker

2

obsolete : a young man : chap

Synonyms of wag

Verb

• flap
• flick
• twitch
• bob
• swing
• waggle
• switch
• swish

Noun (1)

• flap
• flick
• twitch
• waggle
• switch
• swish
• wave
• flutter
• whisk

Noun (2)

• comedian
• droll

Examples of wag in a Sentence

Verb

The dog wagged its tail.

She wagged her finger at the children as she scolded them.

He wagged his head back and forth.

The dog's tail began to wag excitedly.

Noun (1)

the dog gave its tail a single wag before it flopped back down

Noun (2)

some wag wrote a droll satire on the scandal for the newspaper

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In short, the market wanted to know — which tail is wagging the dog? —Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 Nov. 2025

Perhaps this wag-the-dog war is meant to scare a weak Nicolás Maduro. —Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025

Noun

There will be a canine menu and free wag bags while supplies last. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2025

But not every interaction at dog parks ends with happy tail wags. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English waggen; akin to Middle High German wacken to totter, Old English wegan to move — more at way

Noun (2)

probably short for obsolete English waghalter gallows bird, from English wag entry 1 + halter

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1589, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing wag

• chin-wag

Rhymes for wag

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

Kids Definition

wag

1 of 3 verb

ˈwag 

wagged; wagging

: to move or swing to and fro or up and down especially with quick jerky movements

the dog wagged its tail

wagged his finger as he scolded

wagger noun

wag

2 of 3 noun

: a wagging movement

wag

3 of 3 noun

: joker sense 1, wit

Etymology

Verb

Middle English waggen "to be in motion, move about"

Noun

probably a shortened form of obsolete waghalter "a person who should be hanged"