adj

ajar

uh-JAH

adj

Slightly open, not fully shut.

"She left the door ajar so the cat could get in."

"The window was ajar, letting in a cool breeze."

How to Use Ajar

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes a door or window that is open just a little bit, not wide open and not fully closed.

Common pairings

leave the door ajar slightly ajar the window stood ajar

more ajar comparative, ajarred past tense, ajarred past tense, Ajars plural, ajars singular, ajars singular, most ajar superlative

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She left the door _____ so the cat could get in.

From Middle English "on char," meaning "on the turn," from Old English cierr ("a turn"). Over time "on char" fused into the single word "ajar."