zigzag

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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

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
Place in piping bag(s) fitted with medium-small plain tip (or simply cut off end) and pipe onto cookies starting next to outline, using a tight 1/2-inch long zigzag motion until all of cookie surface is filled inside the outline.

— Orange County Register, "Zov’s pastry chef shows you how to decorate Easter cookies," 5 Apr. 2017
Lake Powell's artificial origin story explains its distinctive zigzag-dragon shape on a map, a mass of spiky inlets that boaters love to explore.

— ken jennings, Condé Nast Traveler, "Surprise: Lake Powell Isn't Actually a Lake," 27 Mar. 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 zig·zag

Definition of zigzag

: in or by a zigzag path or course

First Known Use of zigzag

circa 1730

zigzag

adjective zig·zag

Definition of zigzag

: having short sharp turns or angles a zigzag trail

First Known Use of zigzag

1750

zigzag

verb zig·zag

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

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
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
At the wheel, Erika zigzags through the village, stopping every few feet to hang out the window and hail a friend.

— brian j. cantwell, The Seattle Times, "From Loreto, 3 day-trip adventures in Baja’s high desert," 31 May 2017
Buses full of visitors regularly zigzag up and down the road that leads to this bucket-list destination built centuries ago, high in the Andes.

— colleen connolly, chicagotribune.com, "'Lost City' no more, Machu Picchu feels the strain of booming tourism," 31 May 2017
People can perch on, lean against, hang from or walk along London designer Max Lamb's gently zigzagging linear benches.

— alyn griffiths, CNN, "World's top designers reinvent the classic park bench," 15 May 2017
Avan Jogia, who plays Danny, makes a meal of a role that zigzags between menacing and pathetic; his intensity and bearing remind me of a young Colin Farrell.

— glenn kenny, New York Times, "Review: A Psychologist Is Put in the Hot Seat in ‘The Drowning’," 9 May 2017
A zigzag pedestrian walkway will pass through a series gardens attractive to birds and butterflies plus scent and succulent gardens.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Civita Park: From quarry to pleasure grounds," 27 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of zigzag

1777

ZIGZAG Defined for English Language Learners

zigzag

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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

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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

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adverb zig·zag

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

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adjective zig·zag

Definition of zigzag for Students

: having short sharp turns or angles

zigzag

play

verb zig·zag

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