zigzag

noun zig·zag \ ˈzig-ˌzag \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

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

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
Carefully smoothed into a plank, the piece was covered front and back with recognizable human faces and hands, along with zigzag lines and other mysterious details.

— andrew curry, Science | AAAS, "This 11,000-year-old statue unearthed in Siberia may reveal ancient views of taboos and demons," 25 Apr. 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.

Origin and Etymology of zigzag

French

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1712

in the meaning defined above

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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

zigzag

adjective

Definition of zigzag

: having short sharp turns or angles

a zigzag trail

First Known Use of zigzag

1750

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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

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
The zigzagging rooftop is striking as a piece of formal architecture.

— liz stinson, Curbed, "Rooftop solar panels power this school and 50 homes," 2 July 2018
Owens, 28, spends her days zigzagging across the country, speaking at GOP fundraisers and on college campuses as the communications director of Turning Points USA, the country’s most prominent and contentious conservative student group.

— NBC News, "YouTube tested, Trump approved: How Candace Owens suddenly became the loudest voice on the far right," 23 June 2018
The frigid building buzzed with workers on forklifts zigzagging across slick concrete floors, stacking orders waiting to be picked up.

— robin mcdowell, Washington Post, "AP Investigation: Fish billed as local isn’t always local," 14 June 2018

First Known Use of zigzag

1777

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

zigzag Synonyms

Synonyms

dodge, duck, sidestep, weave;

deflect, turn;

slide, slip;

ZIGZAG Defined for English Language Learners

zigzag

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

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

Examples of zigzag in a Sentence

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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

Definition of zigzag for Students

zigzag

Definition of zigzag for Students

zigzag

Definition of zigzag for Students

zigzag

Definition of zigzag for Students

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