noun Uncommon

jab

Jab (noun) means a quick, sharp poke or short straight punch. Example: “He landed a fast jab to his opponent's chin.”

noun

A quick, sharp poke or short straight punch.

"He landed a fast jab to his opponent's chin."

"She gave him a playful jab in the ribs."

British informal: an injection, especially a vaccination.

"I'm booked in for my flu jab next week."

A cutting remark aimed at someone.

"His speech was full of jabs at his rivals."

verb

To poke or punch sharply and quickly.

"She jabbed her finger at the map to show where they were."

"The boxer jabbed repeatedly to keep his opponent at bay."

To give someone an injection.

"The nurse jabbed his arm before he even noticed the needle."

How to use jab

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA quick poke, punch, or (in British English) a vaccination shot — also used for a cutting verbal remark.

UK vs US

"Jab" meaning vaccination is standard British English; American English almost always says "shot" instead.

Common pairings

flu jab left jab take a jab at

Word forms

jabbed past tense, jabs plural, jabs singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He landed a fast _____ to his opponent's chin.

Etymology

Originally a Scots/Scottish English variant of "job" meaning to peck or poke, from Middle English "jobben".

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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dig thrust stab poke poking prod jabbing thrusting

Related words

hit stuff push launch knife remind dig reminder

Frequently asked questions

What does “jab” mean?

The word “jab” means a quick, sharp poke or short straight punch. In plain terms, a quick poke, punch, or (in British English) a vaccination shot — also used for a cutting verbal remark.

How do you pronounce “jab”?

“Jab” is pronounced jab (/d͡ʒæb/ in IPA).

How do you use “jab” in a sentence?

Here is “jab” used in a sentence: “He landed a fast jab to his opponent's chin.”

What part of speech is “jab”?

Depending on how it is used, “jab” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “jab” come from?

The word “jab” comes from Middle English. Originally a Scots/Scottish English variant of "job" meaning to peck or poke, from Middle English "jobben".

Is “jab” a common word?

“Jab” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “jab” have?

“Jab” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a quick, sharp poke or short straight punch.

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Vocabulary lists that include jab:

Words that end with B Words that start with J

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