jab
Americanverb (used with object)
-
jabs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jabbed,
past participle, past
-
jabbing
present participle
-
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: I jab myself with insulin twice a day.
Here’s a list of the countries you can visit if you haven’t been jabbed.
I jab myself with insulin twice a day.
verb (used without object)
-
jabs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jabbed,
past participle, past
-
jabbing
present participle
noun
-
jabs
plural
-
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: He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.
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.
verb
-
to poke or thrust sharply
-
to strike with a quick short blow or blows
noun
-
a sharp poke or stab
-
a quick short blow, esp (in boxing) a straight punch with the leading hand
-
informal an injection
polio jabs
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
jabsimple
-
jabssimple
-
have jabbedperfect
-
has jabbedperfect
-
am jabbingprogressive
-
are jabbingprogressive
-
is jabbingprogressive
-
have been jabbingperfect progressive
-
has been jabbingperfect progressive
Past
-
jabbedsimple
-
had jabbedperfect
-
was jabbingprogressive
-
were jabbingprogressive
-
had been jabbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of jab
First recorded in 1825–35; variant, originally Scots, of job 2
Explanation
When you jab someone, you poke that person. No one on the school bus wants to sit next to the kid who tends to jab people in their ribs with his sharp elbows. You might accidentally jab a man on the elevator with your umbrella, or jab your annoying brother on purpose when he's talking with his mouth full at dinner. Another kind of jab is a quick, sharp punch, especially the kind you make in martial arts. The word comes from the Scottish job, "to strike, pierce, or thrust," which in turn is rooted in the Middle English jobben, "to jab or thrust."
Vocabulary lists containing jab
Essential Three-Letter Words, Part 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Because of Mr. Terupt
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Dear Martin
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
His jab will be sharp, but what makes him so dangerous is that he has more than just a big right hand in his arsenal.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
Amex couldn’t resist a jab at the other credit-card companies nipping at its lounge heels: It will be the only operator with outlets at the three major metro New York airports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
When Jenette Torres Odena's three-year-old son fell ill days after receiving a jab as part of a Philippine vaccination drive, his photograph quickly spread on Facebook alongside claims the inoculation had killed him.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
This isn’t a jab at the project — “U” is an incredible album and the song is just that good.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
They push large forkfuls into their mouths, jab at more pieces of pork, one right after the other.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
Fewer than 800 Scots have received jabs for weight loss on the NHS despite them being approved for use three years ago, BBC News has found.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Even without access to the U.S. market, Chinese carmakers are taking subtle jabs at Detroit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
We sent a freedom of information request to every health board in Scotland, asking them if they prescribe the jabs to patients specifically for weight loss.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
As if this whole affair weren’t self-satisfied enough, Iñárritu jabs his finger at the audience one last time.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
I raised my pencil above the paper and froze into the same position a doctor holds just before he jabs a scalpel into a patient.
From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos
Convenience plays a big role, she says; vaccination rates are highest when parents regularly interact with medics, who can remind them to get their children jabbed and tell them exactly where to do it.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Mid-vows, “Madonna jabbed her middle finger upward,” J. Randy Taraborrelli wrote in “Madonna: An Intimate Biography.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Both fists — little and big — jabbed the air.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2025
It was also possible that he accidentally jabbed himself, through his gloves, on a needle or a patient’s teeth.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2025
Sometimes they jabbed my arm to get my attention.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
For rock fans, “Boston” had it all—dramatic guitar solos, powerful lead vocals, a jabbing bass line, thrashing drums and catchy songs with a smart blend of pop and metal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Of course, he’d likely do all that during a campaign while continuing his lowbrow online jabbing, since the online world remains a parallel reality where anything goes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026
He loved to say it on the stump with his trademark snarl and jabbing finger.
From Salon ● Dec. 11, 2025
Capturing, jabbing, and tracking each wild Elanora koala is basically double that.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2024
“What’s that for?” he said, jabbing a thumb at the poster.
From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
