zigzag

noun

zig·zag | \ˈzig-ˌzag

Definition of zigzag

(Entry 1 of 4)

: one of a series of short sharp turns, angles, or alterations in a course also : something having the form or character of such a series a blouse with green zigzags endured the zigzags of policy — Richard Bernstein

zigzag

adverb

Definition of zigzag (Entry 2 of 4)

: in or by a zigzag path or course

zigzag

adjective

Definition of zigzag (Entry 3 of 4)

: having short sharp turns or angles a zigzag trail

zigzag

verb

zigzagged; zigzagging

Definition of zigzag (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

: to form into a zigzag or move along a zigzag course

intransitive verb

: to lie in, proceed along, or consist of a zigzag course

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Synonyms for zigzag

Synonyms: Verb

dodge, duck, sidestep, weave

Examples of zigzag in a Sentence

Noun

The kids were running in circles and zigzags around the yard. He's wearing a shirt with red zigzags on it.

Verb

We saw a motorcycle zigzagging on the highway. The player with the ball zigzagged back and forth down the field. A dirt road zigzags up the steep hill to our cabin.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Analysts said the decision to exclude China is another zigzag in the Trump administration's relations with Beijing, which has veered from controversy to accommodation, sometimes day by day. — David S. Cloud, latimes.com, "Pentagon bars China from joining naval exercise in the Pacific," 23 May 2018 Photo: Alice Gao High Style A zigzag-shape island from Belgium kitchen manufacturer Obumex has light-reflecting bands of solid copper or brass, brushed oak cabinetry and a black lava-stone countertop. — Karen Bruno, WSJ, "Kitchen Islands Emerge as Luxury Home Must-Have," 5 July 2018 The Los Angeles Conservancy, which sued over the 229-unit project, had argued that 8150 Sunset could be designed in a way that preserves the bank building, known for its zigzag roof and other features. — David Zahniser, latimes.com, "Court OKs demolition of Hollywood building for Frank Gehry project, dealing a blow to preservationists," 28 Mar. 2018 The mood was solemn and subdued as those in attendance filed peacefully through a zigzag of stanchions filling the center floor. — New York Times, "XXXTentacion Is Mourned by Thousands at a Memorial in Florida," 27 June 2018 With one of the most popular World Cup kits in recent memory, Nigeria has grabbed plenty of eyeballs in Russia with its stylish zigzag jerseys. — Connor Grossman, SI.com, "The Story Behind Nigeria's Vibrant World Cup Jerseys," 25 June 2018 One of the first people to pull off this feat, a photographer from Philadelphia named William Nicholson Jennings, explicitly set out to prove the inaccuracy of the conventional lightning zigzag. — Steph Yin, New York Times, "Do You Know What Lightning Really Looks Like?," 11 June 2018 The third sculpture has been carved and notched into a jaunty zigzag that hints at a hip-swaying human torso. — Leah Ollman, latimes.com, "Marvelous or maddening? In Cameron Platter's show, it depends on which way you face," 4 June 2018 Drop teaspoonfuls of the jam across the surface of the blondie batter, and then gently pull the tip of a paring knife through the jam in one direction and then the other, creating a zigzag/grid pattern on the surface. — Charlotte Druckman, sacbee, "In a churn of events, salted butter is back | The Sacramento Bee," 8 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Next, Brown took me to see a robotics elective in another sunny room, where a dynamic teacher named James Robertson zigzagged among tables while bright-eyed kids diligently built little machines. — Daniel Duane, WIRED, "How the Startup Mentality Failed Kids in San Francisco," 28 June 2018 People walking several dogs, skateboarders and the bicyclists zigzagging on sidewalks all had to be avoided, too. — Josh Max, New York Times, "When a Vegan Gets Gout," 5 July 2018 But near the zigzagging imaginary line that crosses the bay and marks the Virginia border, the Chesapeake broadens to 30 miles. — Earl Swift, Outside Online, "The Incredible True Story of the Henrietta C.," 20 June 2018 It can be folded to create a makeshift corral against a wall, zigzagged to define awkward spaces, or folded up small for easy storage. — Stephanie Granada, Sunset, "10 Stylish Pet Furniture Picks," 22 Jan. 2018 There’s also time to kick back each day when kids can zigzag through the corn maze or navigate the obstacle course built from tractor tires. — Anne Schamberg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Farming out the kids: Gathering eggs, milking cows, cooking teach about country life," 3 July 2018 The Crazy Lives of Hydrothermal Vents 1 / 5 View Images Vents are found where continental plates meet, forming 40,000-mile-long mountain ranges or ridges that zigzag up and down the middle of the world's ocean basins like a giant zipper. — National Geographic, "Smoking Ocean Vents Found in Surprisingly Shallow Water," 21 June 2018 In remote West Texas counties like Loving and Reeves, water lines zigzag between frac pits — above-ground pools lined with plastic — that dot the horizon. — Jay Root, star-telegram, "New Mexico official: Texans are 'stealing' water and selling it back for fracking," 7 June 2018 At the rescue site near the cave complex, vehicles ranging from SUVs to motorcycles zigzag in and out along the muddy terrain, as vendors set up noodle stalls and massage booths for the volunteers. — Shibani Mahtani, BostonGlobe.com, "A congenital hand difference isn’t enough to hold this young athlete back," 4 July 2018

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

First Known Use of zigzag

Noun

1712, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1750, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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Dictionary Entries near zigzag

Statistics for zigzag

Last Updated

26 Sep 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for zigzag

The first known use of zigzag was in 1712

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More Definitions for zigzag

zigzag

noun

English Language Learners Definition of zigzag

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a line that has a series of short, sharp turns or angles

zigzag

verb

English Language Learners Definition of zigzag (Entry 2 of 2)

: to move along a path that has a series of short, sharp turns or angles

See the full definition for zigzag in the English Language Learners Dictionary

zigzag

noun

zig·zag | \ˈzig-ˌzag

Kids Definition of zigzag

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : one of a series of short sharp turns or angles in a line or course

2 : a line, path, or pattern with a series of short sharp angles

zigzag

adverb

Kids Definition of zigzag (Entry 2 of 4)

: in or by a line or course that has short sharp turns or angles He ran zigzag across the field.

zigzag

adjective

Kids Definition of zigzag (Entry 3 of 4)

: having short sharp turns or angles

zigzag

verb

zigzagged; zigzagging

Kids Definition of zigzag (Entry 4 of 4)

: to form into or move along a line or course that has short sharp turns or angles Both kids took off, zigzagging around trees and bushes.— Blue Balliett, Chasing Vermeer