: 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 WebChantal Nguyen, The Conversation, 13 Sep. 2024
One charming highlight is a geometric zigzag detail painted around the entrance to the colorful kitchen, framing the view.
—Katharina Schwarze, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2024
The spectacular main pool, with its zigzag shapes and cabanas, is the perfect place for children to cut the silence.
—Demarco Williams, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
At 60, the Midwest kid turned Brat Pack icon is four-and-a-half decades into a versatile career marked by risk-taking zigzags and reinvention.
—Elizabeth Leonard, Peoplemag, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zigzag 
Noun
Their shade avoidance responses pushed them away from each other, but that wasn’t enough to produce the zigzag – the model plants stayed stuck in a line.
—Chantal Nguyen, The Conversation, 13 Sep. 2024
One charming highlight is a geometric zigzag detail painted around the entrance to the colorful kitchen, framing the view.
—Katharina Schwarze, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2024
The spectacular main pool, with its zigzag shapes and cabanas, is the perfect place for children to cut the silence.
—Demarco Williams, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
At 60, the Midwest kid turned Brat Pack icon is four-and-a-half decades into a versatile career marked by risk-taking zigzags and reinvention.
—Elizabeth Leonard, Peoplemag, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zigzag
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.
Dictionary Entries Near zigzag
Cite this Entry
“Zigzag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zigzag. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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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