verb
wag
wag
Wag (verb) means to swing repeatedly from side to side. Example: “The dog wagged its tail excitedly when its owner came home.”
verb
1
To swing repeatedly from side to side.
"The dog wagged its tail excitedly when its owner came home."
"She wagged her finger at the naughty puppy."
noun
1
A witty, joking person.
"He's the office wag, always cracking jokes in meetings."
2
Informal, chiefly British: the wife or girlfriend of a well-known sportsman.
"The tabloids love photographing footballers' wags at big matches."
How to use wag
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo swing back and forth (like a tail), or, as a noun, a joker — or, informally, a footballer's partner.
Common pairings
wag its tail
tongues wag
office wag
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wag.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wags
- Third person singular
- wags
- Past tense
- wagged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's the office _____, always cracking jokes in meetings.
Etymology
From Old English "wagian" (to shake or wave), reinforced by a similar Old Norse word — both from an ancient Germanic root meaning "to move".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for wag
See all rhymes for wag →Frequently asked questions
What does “wag” mean?
The word “wag” means to swing repeatedly from side to side. In plain terms, to swing back and forth (like a tail), or, as a noun, a joker — or, informally, a footballer's partner.
How do you pronounce “wag”?
“Wag” is pronounced wag (/wæɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “wag” in a sentence?
Here is “wag” used in a sentence: “The dog wagged its tail excitedly when its owner came home.”
What part of speech is “wag”?
Depending on how it is used, “wag” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “wag” come from?
The word “wag” comes from Old English. From Old English "wagian" (to shake or wave), reinforced by a similar Old Norse word — both from an ancient Germanic root meaning "to move".
How many meanings does “wag” have?
“Wag” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to swing repeatedly from side to side.
