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jack

22 synonyms for jack, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A mechanical device used to lift something heavy off the ground, especially to raise a car to change a tyre.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

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Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A mechanical device used to lift something heavy off the ground, especially to raise a car to change a tyre.

“Without a jack, we could not raise the van high enough to fix the wheel.”

lift hoist jackscrew car jack tar squat seaman gob knave diddly mariner laborer labourer jak diddley sea dog jack up Jack-tar old salt seafarer jackfruit jacklight

2. verb

To lift something using a mechanical jack.

“You should jack the caravan up a little before sliding the blocks underneath.”

How to use jack

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

car jack jack up the price jack of all trades headphone jack

Etymology

From the medieval given name "Jacques" (via Anglo-Norman), which became a generic English word for "a man" or "a fellow" and later attached itself to countless tools, devices, and objects.

Full origin of jack →

Frequently asked questions

What does “jack” mean?
The word “jack” means a mechanical device used to lift something heavy off the ground, especially to raise a car to change a tyre. In plain terms, has a huge range of meanings, but the everyday ones are: the tool for lifting a car, the playing card, a plug socket, or (slang) money.
How do you pronounce “jack”?
“Jack” is pronounced JAK (/ˈd͡ʒæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “jack” in a sentence?
Here is “jack” used in a sentence: “He grabbed the jack from the trunk to change the flat tire.”
What part of speech is “jack”?
Depending on how it is used, “jack” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “jack” come from?
The word “jack” comes from Anglo-Norman. From the medieval given name "Jacques" (via Anglo-Norman), which became a generic English word for "a man" or "a fellow" and later attached itself to countless tools, devices, and objects.
Is “jack” a common word?
“Jack” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “jack” have?
“Jack” has 7 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mechanical device used to lift something heavy off the ground, especially to raise a car to change a tyre.
How does a car jack work?
A car jack lifts a vehicle by converting a small effort into a large lifting force. A scissor jack uses a turning screw that draws its sides together, raising the top. A hydraulic or bottle jack uses fluid pressure from a pump to push a piston up. Both let one person raise a heavy car safely.
What are the types of jacks?
Common types include the scissor jack, supplied with many cars; the hydraulic bottle jack, tall and powerful; the trolley or floor jack used in garages; and the high-lift or farm jack for rough terrain. All are mechanical devices designed to raise heavy loads, differing mainly in mechanism, height, and lifting capacity.
What is the difference between a jack and an axle stand?
A jack raises a vehicle off the ground, but it is not meant to hold it there for long. An axle stand, or jack stand, is a fixed support placed under a raised car to hold it safely while you work. You lift with the jack, then rest the weight on stands.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.