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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
adverbDefinition of zigzag (Entry 2 of 4)
: in or by a zigzag path or course
zigzag
adjectiveDefinition of zigzag (Entry 3 of 4)
: having short sharp turns or angles
a zigzag trail
zigzag
verbzigzagged; zigzagging
Definition of zigzag (Entry 4 of 4)
: to form into a zigzag or move along a zigzag course
: to lie in, proceed along, or consist of a zigzag course
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Other Words from zigzag
Noun
zigzaggy \ ˈzig-ˌza-gē \ adjective
\ adjective
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The other hunter then moves forward in a zigzag pattern while looping out to one side and then back to the stander, shaking brambles and stomping blowdowns to kick game forward to the other gunner.
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T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, "How to Hunt Winter Rabbits without Dogs," 3 Feb. 2020 This happens because the bobbin thread ends up in a zigzag.
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Vanessa Nirode, Popular Science, "Five simple fixes to keep your clothing around longer," 10 Jan. 2020 Clay earrings were all the rage starting last year. Pairs that dangle, studs, hoops and zigzags had found their way onto many fashion-forward ears.
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Lily Jackson | Ljackson@al.com, al, "Gen Z is changing the look, feel of small-business Alabama," 10 Nov. 2019 Six Juki sewing machines can be rented out — $14.99 for four hours for members, $19.99 for nonmembers — including one especially for hems and seams and another for zigzag stitching.
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BostonGlobe.com, "Fashion incubator aims to be a one-stop for new designers - The Boston Globe," 28 Oct. 2019 The Syracuse years get thorough treatment, and this material goes a long way in explaining the zigzag life that followed.
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Robert Dean Lurie, National Review, "The Turbulent Life of the Velvet Underground’s Lou Reed," 26 Sep. 2019 This compels any wildfire to follow a zigzag path in search of fuel, travelling against the wind at least half the time.
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Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, "A Trailblazing Plan to Fight California Wildfires," 19 Aug. 2019 But the grand coming-of-age tale is grounded by a zigzag timeline and an action-forward ending that’s treated as an afterthought.
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Garrett Mitchell, Detroit Free Press, "Visually appealing ‘Goldfinch’ is far from a masterpiece," 12 Sep. 2019 Lace the meat lengthwise in a zigzag through the bamboo skewer.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "Anti-inflammatory diet: a food fight against disease," 27 Aug. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb According to data submitted to the FBI by the Philadelphia police, the city’s handgun homicide rate has zigzagged.
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Alex Yablon, The New Republic, "Larry Krasner’s Lonely, Radical Crusade to Solve America’s Gun Problem," 28 Jan. 2020 In The Gulf Stream, the artist seamlessly zigzags from present to future to past.
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Brian T. Allen, National Review, "To the 1619 Project: Use More Art, Less Fake History," 25 Jan. 2020 David DeLooper spent the last 30 days zigzagging across the country with a wardrobe of creative costumes, an arsenal of subpar dance moves and one ambitious goal: Attend 30 NBA home games in hopes of getting on every team’s Jumbotron.
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Jamie Goldberg, oregonlive, "NBA fan reaches goal of getting on every team’s Jumbotron in 30 days at Portland Trail Blazers game," 24 Jan. 2020 Amy became a celebrity, zigzagging across the country, her parents barely able to keep up with all the golf tournaments, engagements, requests for interviews.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "Amazing Amy changing lives on and off the course," 20 Sep. 2019 Knit fabrics don’t really fray, but the bobbin zigzag will act as a stay stitch to ensure nothing unravels.
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Vanessa Nirode, Popular Science, "Five simple fixes to keep your clothing around longer," 10 Jan. 2020 There were about 35,000 miles of trenches on the Western Front, all zigzagging, and the Western Front itself was 430 miles long, extending from the English Channel in the North to the Swiss Alps in the South.
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Olivia B. Waxman, Time, "The Real World War I History Behind the Movie 1917," 23 Dec. 2019 Trump spent much of his marathon speech zigzagging between impeachment and unrelated topics, punctuating his remarks with more profanity than usual.
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Anchorage Daily News, "Defiant Trump rallies supporters as House impeaches him," 19 Dec. 2019 Available exclusively at the Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World, the ears are available in several different color schemes, most with Missoni’s trademark zigzag weave.
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Valerie Marino, Condé Nast Traveler, "9 Gifts for the Friend Who Travels to Disney at Least Once a Year," 17 Dec. 2019
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for zigzag
zigzag
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of zigzag
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a line that has a series of short, sharp turns or angles
zigzag
verbEnglish 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
nounzig·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
adverbKids 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
adjectiveKids Definition of zigzag (Entry 3 of 4)
: having short sharp turns or angles
zigzag
verbzigzagged; 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
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Time Traveler for zigzag
The first known use of zigzag was in 1712
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