juggle

[juhg-uhl]

verb (used with object)

juggled, juggling 

1. to keep (several objects, as balls, plates, tenpins, or knives) in continuous motion in the air simultaneously by tossing and catching.

2. to hold, catch, carry, or balance precariously; almost drop and then catch hold again.

   The center fielder juggled the ball but finally made the catch.

3. to alter or manipulate in order to deceive, as by subterfuge or trickery.

   to juggle the business accounts; to juggle the facts.

4. to manage or alternate the requirements of (two or more tasks, responsibilities, activities, etc.) so as to handle each adequately.

   to juggle the obligations of job and school.

verb (used without object)

juggled, juggling 

1. to perform feats of manual or bodily dexterity, as tossing up and keeping in continuous motion a number of balls, plates, knives, etc.

2. to use artifice or trickery.

noun

1. the act or fact of juggling.

juggle

/ ˈdʒʌɡəl /

verb

1. to throw and catch (several objects) continuously so that most are in the air all the time, as an entertainment

2. to arrange or manipulate (facts, figures, etc) so as to give a false or misleading picture

3. (tr) to keep (several activities) in progress, esp with difficulty

noun

1. an act of juggling

Other Word Forms

• jugglingly adverb
• outjuggle verb (used with object)
• unjuggled adjective
• jugglery noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of juggle¹

1350–1400; Middle English jog ( e ) len < Old French jogler to serve as buffoon or jester < Late Latin joculāre to joke (replacing Latin joculārī ), equivalent to Latin jocul ( us ) ( joc ( us ) joke + -ulus -ule ) + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of juggle¹

C14: from Old French jogler to perform as a jester, from Latin joculārī to jest, from jocus a jest

Example Sentences

Multitasking has become a norm for the “Cruel Summer” singer, who juggled her last tour with the recording of the album.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But with the large gap between spending commitments and the Scottish government's forecast revenue, this is only one of several public spending priorities that ministers have to juggle.

Read more on BBC

The 300th episode, written by Bouchard and Nora Smith, digs into the show’s core premise to reveal how Bob and Linda came to juggle a restaurant and a family at the same time.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

No one wants to juggle a flimsy plate or fuss with utensils in a parking lot.

Read more on Salon

Wives of politicians and pastors alike both have to juggle diplomacy work, serving dinners and soothing egos, so that their husbands can swoop in and close deals.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• alter 
• shuffle