zigzag

play

noun zig·zag \ ˈzig-ˌzag \

Definition of zigzag

: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

—

zigzaggy

play \ˈzig-ˌza-gē\ adjective

See zigzag defined for English-language learners

See zigzag defined for kids

Examples of zigzag in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of zigzag from the Web

The Navy convicted him of negligence for not ordering the cruiser to travel in a zigzag pattern.

— alex wigglesworth, latimes.com, "Researchers find wreckage of WWII Navy destroyer Indianapolis, 72 years after it sank," 19 Aug. 2017
The pieces are connected with pointed finger joints, which have a zigzag pattern when the pieces are put together.

— becky jacobs, chicagotribune.com, "Hoosier Bat Co. supplies sluggers with customized hits," 14 Aug. 2017
Unsurprisingly, the president's zigzag health-care evolution can be traced in his tweets.

— paige winfield cunningham, Washington Post, "The Health 202: Trump's health care evolution can be traced in his tweets," 14 June 2017
Using a teaspoon, drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookies to create thin stripes (or zigzags) all in the same direction.

— yotam ottolenghi, charlotteobserver, "Tahini can take your baking to places you didn’t expect," 13 June 2017
To play the game, a contestant drops up to five chips down a zigzag maze that has varying amounts of money at the bottom of the board, ranging from $0 to $10,000.

— CBS News, "Contestant wins record $31.5K playing Plinko on "The Price is Right"," 26 May 2017
Or cut dough into five zigzag strips and lay on top of pie filling, trimming excess.

— debbie arrington, sacbee.com, "Cherry season arrives in a hurry after slow start," 23 May 2017
Age of Heroes show when Spider-Man enters from backstage and zigzags around the theater.

— tamara lush, The Seattle Times, "Marvel Universe LIVE!: Superheroes save the day in new show," 15 May 2017
But Hawkins’s distinctive zigzag storytelling style helped sell 20 million copies worldwide and turned the novel into a (so-so) Hollywood movie.

— maureen corrigan, The Denver Post, "New novel by “Girl on the Train” writer fails to thrill," 4 May 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of zigzag

French

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1712

See Words from the same year

zigzag

adverb

Definition of zigzag

:in or by a zigzag path or course

First Known Use of zigzag

circa 1730

zigzag

adjective

Definition of zigzag

:having short sharp turns or angles

a zigzag trail

First Known Use of zigzag

1750

zigzag

verb

Definition of zigzag

zigzagged; zigzagging

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

See zigzag defined for English-language learners

Examples of zigzag in a Sentence

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 of zigzag from the Web

The UberEats driver continued driving, zigzagging to his home to throw off anyone could could have been following him.

— elvia malagon, chicagotribune.com, "UberEats driver grazed in Chicago Lawn shooting: 'God, that was like a movie'," 26 Aug. 2017
A newer route starts in the same place but employs newfangled switchbacks that zigzag up through the trees and spit you out at treeline.

— alli harvey, Alaska Dispatch News, "Sisters so different get similar thrills at the top of Lazy Mountain," 24 Aug. 2017
Witnesses said the white van zigzagged at high speed down Las Ramblas, a busy avenue thronged with tourists, knocking down pedestrians.

— pilar suarez and andrés gonzález, The Christian Science Monitor, "ISIS claims credit for Barcelona van attack," 18 Aug. 2017
On Wednesday, health care developments continued to unfold at a breakneck pace, and with a zigzagging trajectory, when the Senate Budget Committee posted on its website yet another bill.

— julie rovner, Kaiser Health News, "Cruz Plan Gets Thumbs Up From HHS But Thumbs Down From Most Everyone Else," 19 July 2017
But according to ancient Chinese belief, bad energy follows straight lines and good energy meanders (hence the zigzagging garden paths and serpentine manmade waterways).

— klara glowczewska, Town & Country, "Why Now Is the Time to Visit China," 14 July 2017
The night of the attack, just as the fireworks ended, Greg heard Sophie yell to him and his daughter to get out of the way of a zigzagging truck.

— pamela falk, CBS News, "U.S. victim of Bastille Day attack looks back a year later," 14 July 2017
The chase zigzagged between Caldwell and Nampa on several routes before ending with a crash into a canal, a short foot pursuit and police deploying a stun gun, according to a news release from the Caldwell Police Department.

— kristin rodine, idahostatesman, "Man intentionally tried to hit Caldwell drivers head-on during pursuit, police say," 12 June 2017
Christine Archibald's death made international headlines: She was killed Saturday by attackers who zigzagged a van through a crowd on London Bridge, then got out and stabbed people with large knives.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "‘Tell them Chrissy sent you’: London attack victim’s life inspires people to help the homeless," 5 June 2017

First Known Use of zigzag

1777

zigzag Synonyms

Synonyms

duck, jink, sidestep, slalom, weave, dodge

Related Words

avoid, elude, escape, evade, parry, shirk, skirt; deflect, turn; slide, slip

ZIGZAG Defined for English Language Learners

zigzag

play

noun

Definition of zigzag for English Language Learners

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

zigzag

verb

Definition of zigzag for English Language Learners

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

ZIGZAG Defined for Kids

zigzag

play

noun zig·zag \ ˈzig-ˌzag \

Definition of zigzag for Students

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

Definition of zigzag for Students

:in or by a line or course that has short sharp turns or angles

He ran zigzag across the field.

zigzag

adjective

Definition of zigzag for Students

:having short sharp turns or angles

zigzag

verb

Definition of zigzag for Students

zigzagged; zigzagging

: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

Learn More about zigzag

See words that rhyme with zigzag Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for zigzag Spanish Central: Translation of zigzag Nglish: Translation of zigzag for Spanish speakers

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zigzag

Definition of zigzag

zigzaggy

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Origin and Etymology of zigzag

zigzag

Definition of zigzag

First Known Use of zigzag

zigzag

Definition of zigzag

First Known Use of zigzag

zigzag

Definition of zigzag

Examples of zigzag in a Sentence

Recent Examples of zigzag from the Web

First Known Use of zigzag

zigzag Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

ZIGZAG Defined for English Language Learners

zigzag

Definition of zigzag for English Language Learners

zigzag

Definition of zigzag for English Language Learners

ZIGZAG Defined for Kids

zigzag

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zigzag

Definition of zigzag for Students

zigzag

Definition of zigzag for Students

zigzag

Definition of zigzag for Students

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