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

Other Words from zigzag Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About zigzag

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 Once the animals are loaded, his boys will lead them up a zigzag out of Tawella’s ravine. — Alex Perry, Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2021 Beaten egg fuses with a crepe; crackers made from fried won ton wrappers and halved pieces of hot dog poke out; flavors of soy sauce and chile oil zigzag through every other bite. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2022 Whatever caused the initial zigzag, the Suez pilots’ efforts to correct course proved counterproductive. — BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2021 Casually kicking his skateboard up into his hand after an afternoon run, Zuppke stopped long enough to admire the design of the surface, a two-tone zigzag pattern that reminds Sarah Lemelin of Charlie Brown’s trademark shirt. — John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press, 30 May 2020 Queen Rania of Jordan wore a grey Nafsika Skourti jacket with zigzag embroidery to welcome the president and first lady of Germany to Amman in 2015. — Sheila Marikar, 1843, 7 May 2020 Why not take a zigzag journey through the state capitals? — Ted Widmer, Time, 17 Apr. 2020 Floating above the rising line were some black zigzags that faintly resembled cursive letters: the president’s signature. — Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2020 But today, without that costly option, Roscosmos engineers need to fit all major components onto rail cars, which could then pass through the narrow tunnels and treacherous zigzags of the Trans-Siberian railroad. — Anatoly Zak, Popular Mechanics, 3 Feb. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Newly dug trench lines zigzag away from the road, fortified by freshly cut logs and machine gun positions. — New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022 Descending from the lofty peak that is the city of San Cristobal de las Casas, travelers zigzag down a mountain path to reach the plunging valley of the Sumidero Canyon. — Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2022 John would zigzag the country shooting action photos of A-list sporting events 250 days a year for SI. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2022 Trails would zigzag down the slope, connecting Ohio City to the river’s edge. — Steven Litt, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2021 Even Pacheco, whose business is booming, longs for the days when residents with border crossing cards were able to zigzag across the border with ease. — Dallas News, 23 Sep. 2021 The first lengthy road trip of the season will zigzag through Charlotte, Brooklyn, Cleveland and Detroit from Nov. 14-19. — Rusty Simmons, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Aug. 2021 Smugglers often zigzag away from trails and even crawl through the brush to keep from being detected, though the vegetation makes the hike that much slower and more difficult. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2021 Gravel roads zigzag up the disfigured faces of mountainsides torn apart by explosives. — azcentral, 15 Apr. 2021 See More

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

Learn More About zigzag

Dictionary Entries Near zigzag

Zigong

zigzag

zigzag clover

Statistics for zigzag

Cite this Entry

“Zigzag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zigzag. Accessed 23 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for zigzag

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