sag

¹ American  

[sag] / sæg /

verb (used without object)

sagged, sagging

1. to sink or bend downward by weight or pressure, especially in the middle.

   The roof sags.

2. to hang down unevenly; droop.

   Her skirt was sagging.

3. to droop; hang loosely.

   His shoulders sagged.

4. to yield through weakness, lack of effort, or the like.

   Our spirits began to sag.

   Synonyms:

   weary, tire, flag, weaken

5. to decline, as in price.

   The stock market sagged today.

6. Nautical.

   1. (of a hull) to droop at the center or have excessive sheer because of structural weakness.

   2. to be driven to leeward; to make too much leeway.

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verb (used with object)

sagged, sagging

1. to cause to sag.

noun

1. an act or instance of sagging.

2. the degree of sagging.

3. a place where anything sags; depression.

4. a moderate decline in prices.

5. Nautical.

   1. deflection downward of a hull amidships, due to structural weakness.

   2. leeway.

SAG ² American  

[sag] / sæg /

noun

1. Screen Actors Guild.

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sag British  

/ sæɡ /

verb

1. (also tr) to sink or cause to sink in parts, as under weight or pressure

   the bed sags in the middle

2. to fall in value

   prices sagged to a new low

3. to hang unevenly; droop

4. (of courage, spirits, etc) to weaken; flag

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noun

1. the act or an instance of sagging

   a sag in profits

2. nautical the extent to which a vessel's keel sags at the centre Compare hog hogged

3. 1. a marshy depression in an area of glacial till, chiefly in the US Middle West

   2. ( as modifier )

      sag and swell topography

Other Word Forms

• antisag adjective
• unsagging adjective

Etymology

Origin of sag

1375–1425; late Middle English saggen (v.), probably < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian sagga to move slowly (akin to Low German sacken to sink, Norwegian, Danish sakke, Swedish sacka, Icelandic sakka to slow up, fall behind)

Explanation

When something sags, it leans, settles, or droops. If your bed sags in the middle, it can be hard to get a good night's sleep. When you're tired, your whole body may sag, drooping with exhaustion. And older people are sometimes surprised to look in the mirror and see that their faces are beginning to sag with age. Objects sag too, with weight or age: "The porch on that old house has started to sag — the whole thing may need to be torn down." Sag is probably related to the Old Norse sokkva, "to sink."

Example Sentences

Tables that seemed to sag gently under the weight of carbohydrates.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

Our efforts tend to sag when we feel comfortable in our roles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 18, 2025

When the boy’s not looking, Jamie’s shoulders sag as he trudges up the stairs to Isla’s sickbed, showing us a hint of adult complexities he alone understands.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2025

Bahandari says neglecting to account for weight distribution can cause your bookshelves to sag or collapse.

From Seattle Times • May 3, 2024

He leans his entire body into the wall, and his shoulders sag.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

Related Words

• cave in
• dip
• drop off
• fall off
• languish
• sink
• slide
• slip
• slump
• wilt