: 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
Richard Bernstein
: in or by a zigzag path or course
: having short sharp turns or angles
a zigzag trail
zigzagged; zigzagging
: to form into a zigzag or move along a zigzag course
: to lie in, proceed along, or consist of a zigzag course
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 WebKarla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2023
But the network is winding, uneven and in some parts fashioned in a zigzag pattern to evade Israeli detection.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
The bites are often found in clusters, either in a straight row or zigzag pattern, WebMD states.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023
Hulman Building and Garage 20 N.W. 4th St. and 109-111 N.W. 3rd St. in Evansville
Courtesy of its art deco style, the 10-story commercial skyscraper displays carved scenes of transportation and industry along with floral and zigzag motifs.
—The Indianapolis Star, 22 Aug. 2023
Get The Recipe 12 of 70 Eggnog Spice Cake With Bourbon Custard Filling And Eggnog Buttercream
Slightly boozy and decorated with a festive, zigzag frosting, guests are sure to enjoy this layered take on Christmas eggnog.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2023
Advertisement Police described the dog, named Drake, as a gold pit bull-Rhodesian ridgeback mix with a zigzag scar on his back.
—Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
The technical fleece is knitted from hollow-core yarns into a zigzag jacquard texture that's intended to repel moisture and dry quickly while still allowing air to pass through.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2023
In 54 flights since April 19, 2021, the craft has flown about an hour and a half, covering a distance of about 8 miles in zigzag paths 30 feet or more above the Martian surface.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2023
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023
Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
The claim could not be immediately verified but Palestinian groups have previously acknowledged that their rockets land in Gaza; video last year showed one zigzagging through the air shortly after launch, before plummeting into a civilian area.
—Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2023
Long lines zigzagged outside the entrance to the event’s expo hall.
—WIRED, 2 Oct. 2023
Presidential power has transferred peacefully six times, zigzagging among seasoned moderates, a center-leftist, a conservative businessman, and in March 2022, back to a boyish-faced leftist who is now struggling to find a balance between ideological ideals and practical problem-solving.
—Pamela Constable, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
His volatile emotional states are the biggest constant in a book that zigzags from cars to rockets, tunneling to AI, solar energy to neural implants.
—Matt Pearce, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023
The interplay of forms linear, zigzagged and curved (including decorative finials), smooth and sharp edged, in Dawn’s Wedding Chapel II can keep eye and mind occupied for quite a while.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023
The main road winds alongside the Umpqua River, which stretches 111 miles and zigzags through downtown Roseburg.
—Will Lanzoni, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2023
The men sleep in private cabins that zigzag up a hillside.
—Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 22 Sep. 2023
See More
Noun
With the green dough sheets, use a succulent fondant cutter to create zigzag shapes.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2023
But the network is winding, uneven and in some parts fashioned in a zigzag pattern to evade Israeli detection.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
The bites are often found in clusters, either in a straight row or zigzag pattern, WebMD states.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023
Hulman Building and Garage 20 N.W. 4th St. and 109-111 N.W. 3rd St. in Evansville
Courtesy of its art deco style, the 10-story commercial skyscraper displays carved scenes of transportation and industry along with floral and zigzag motifs.
—The Indianapolis Star, 22 Aug. 2023
Get The Recipe 12 of 70 Eggnog Spice Cake With Bourbon Custard Filling And Eggnog Buttercream
Slightly boozy and decorated with a festive, zigzag frosting, guests are sure to enjoy this layered take on Christmas eggnog.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2023
Advertisement Police described the dog, named Drake, as a gold pit bull-Rhodesian ridgeback mix with a zigzag scar on his back.
—Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
The technical fleece is knitted from hollow-core yarns into a zigzag jacquard texture that's intended to repel moisture and dry quickly while still allowing air to pass through.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2023
In 54 flights since April 19, 2021, the craft has flown about an hour and a half, covering a distance of about 8 miles in zigzag paths 30 feet or more above the Martian surface.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2023
Adjective
Any number of odd, zigzag examples can be used to make the case that legislative districts in Wisconsin are excessively gerrymandered.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023
Verb
Even with rainy weekends and a jump in admission prices, families have been coming out to visit the petting zoo, ride on giant slides and zigzag through a hay-bale maze.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
The claim could not be immediately verified but Palestinian groups have previously acknowledged that their rockets land in Gaza; video last year showed one zigzagging through the air shortly after launch, before plummeting into a civilian area.
—Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2023
Long lines zigzagged outside the entrance to the event’s expo hall.
—WIRED, 2 Oct. 2023
Presidential power has transferred peacefully six times, zigzagging among seasoned moderates, a center-leftist, a conservative businessman, and in March 2022, back to a boyish-faced leftist who is now struggling to find a balance between ideological ideals and practical problem-solving.
—Pamela Constable, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
His volatile emotional states are the biggest constant in a book that zigzags from cars to rockets, tunneling to AI, solar energy to neural implants.
—Matt Pearce, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023
The interplay of forms linear, zigzagged and curved (including decorative finials), smooth and sharp edged, in Dawn’s Wedding Chapel II can keep eye and mind occupied for quite a while.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023
The main road winds alongside the Umpqua River, which stretches 111 miles and zigzags through downtown Roseburg.
—Will Lanzoni, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2023
The men sleep in private cabins that zigzag up a hillside.
—Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 22 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zigzag.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
French
First Known Use
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
Dictionary Entries Near zigzag
Cite this Entry
“Zigzag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zigzag. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
zigzag
1 of 4 noun
zig·zag
ˈzig-ˌzag 
: one of a series of short sharp turns, angles, or changes in a course
also
: something having the form or appearance of such a series
zigzag
2 of 4 adverb
: in or by a zigzag path or course
zigzag
3 of 4 adjective
: having short sharp turns or angles
zigzag
4 of 4 verb
zigzagged; zigzagging
: to form, move along, or consist of a zigzag course
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