jab
to poke, or thrust abruptly or sharply, as with the end or point of a stick or with the finger or elbow.
to punch with a short, quick blow.
Informal. to give (a person) a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine: Here’s a list of the countries you can visit if you haven’t been jabbed.I jab myself with insulin twice a day.
to poke or punch with a sharp, quick blow.
a poke with the end or point of something; a sharp, quick thrust.
a short, quick punch.
Informal. a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine: Have you gotten your flu jab yet?
Informal. an abrupt insult or critical remark: That guy has no problem responding with a sarcastic jab.
a sudden and unpleasant sensation or emotion: I have jabs of pain, numbness, and tingling in my fingers.He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.
Origin of jab
1Other words from jab
- jab·bing·ly, adverb
Words Nearby jab
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use jab in a sentence
An employee who works in a busy store or crowded office, for instance, would likely have to get a jab, while someone who mostly works by themselves might not.
For more than three hours on Wednesday, Democrat and Republican senators took jabs at Facebook, Twitter, and Google, saying that they disseminate misinformation, spark violence, and suppress conservative voices.
4 key moments from the Senate’s showdown with Big Tech CEOs | Danielle Abril | October 28, 2020 | FortuneTo put it differently, it’s why boxers lead with the jab and don’t start their fights throwing haymakers.
When the Clippers called for a post-up, Leonard routinely had the defense right where he wanted it — be it after a series of fluttering jab steps from the mid-post, or a methodical backdown that eventually concluded with him muscling through contact.
If Kawhi Turns His Back To The Basket, Watch Out | Michael Pina | September 3, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightChina’s Central Military Commission gave the go-ahead in June to vaccinate soldiers with a jab developed by CanSino Biologics in partnership with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences.
China has been vaccinating key workers with unapproved COVID-19 vaccines for weeks | eamonbarrett | August 24, 2020 | Fortune
Maybe you think Botox is no big deal—a quick lunchtime jab to freshen up the face?
Nicole Kidman Botox Insanity: Why All Women Lose Out When We Obsess Over Stars’ Faces | Emma Woolf | May 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis could be construed as a jab at Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who is actively considering both.
Forget the White House, Marco Rubio Might Be Lucky Just to Be Reelected | Myra Adams | May 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA little global economics-based jab alongside the political insults.
This has been the animating spirit behind Lincoln, which was read as an implicit jab at Obama.
‘Breaking Bad’ in the White House: Bryan Cranston as LBJ in 'All the Way' | David Freedlander | March 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThere was the jab at a blue-haired Liza Minnelli, claiming she was a man in drag masquerading as the Oscar winning legend.
Surprise! Ellen DeGeneres is the Best Oscars Host in a Decade | Marlow Stern | March 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI just got out iv th' back dure in time to escape a jab in th' spine fr'm a German that I niver see befure.
Mr. Dooley Says | Finley DunneIf I see another one, I'll jab him with one of these knitting needles.
Tom Slade with the Colors | Percy K. FitzhughI still have the reach, and I was able to protect myself by a frequent use of a lightning left jab.
Seeing Things at Night | Heywood BrounWhen I said this, I turned to jab a claw at the other priests, using the motion to cover my flicking a coin grenade toward them.
The Repairman | Harry HarrisonI would make fur the doctor and draw my spear back to jab it clean through him, and Watty would grab my arm.
Danny's Own Story | Don Marquis
British Dictionary definitions for jab
/ (dʒæb) /
to poke or thrust sharply
to strike with a quick short blow or blows
a sharp poke or stab
a quick short blow, esp (in boxing) a straight punch with the leading hand
informal an injection: polio jabs
Origin of jab
1Derived forms of jab
- jabbing, adjective
- jabbingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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