ajar

¹

[ uh-jahr ]

adjective

1. neither entirely open nor entirely shut; partly open:

   The door was ajar.

ajar

²

[ uh-jahr ]

adverb

1. in contradiction to; at variance with:

   a story ajar with the facts.

ajar

¹

/ əˈdʒɑː /

adjective

1. (esp of a door or window) slightly open

ajar

²

/ əˈdʒɑː /

adjective

1. postpositive not in harmony

Word History and Origins

Origin of ajar¹

1350–1400; Middle English on char on the turn; a- ¹, char ³

Origin of ajar²

1545–55; for at jar at discord; jar ³ (noun)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ajar¹

C18: altered form of obsolete on char, literally: on the turn; char, from Old English cierran to turn

Origin of ajar²

C19: altered form of at jar at discord. See jar ²

Example Sentences

Freeman said that during the gap in the video, Prather was pounding on the door so violently it popped ajar.

From Washington Post

When the police officers arrived minutes later, they pushed the door ajar and found Trawick, a personal trainer and dancer, standing near his stove, holding the knife and stick.

From ProPublica

The evidence suggested that the killer or killers had probably entered the building through the back door, which had been found ajar.

From ProPublica

Despite the high drama of shutting down news, Facebook still has sizable payment offers on publishers’ tables and there they remain with doors ajar.

From Time

Every day, we are all forced to recalculate the wisdom of reentering a world that is, if far from completely reopened, at least left cautiously ajar.

From Time

A guard is manning the door, which is always kept ajar so she can be monitored.

From The Daily Beast

Her door stands ajar, halving the room with a beam of light.

From The Daily Beast

By the time the No Smoking sign flashes off, both of the Allmans are fast asleep, their mouths characteristically ajar.

From The Daily Beast

An “exit” door left ajar welcomed leering lingerers backstage.

From The Daily Beast

Postscript: According to his Instagram and Facebook feed, Ajar is still living large.

From The Daily Beast

It was ajar, and Kerry, taking an electric torch from his overall pocket, flashed the light upon the name-plate.

From Project Gutenberg

Edna had discovered it accidentally one day when the high-board gate stood ajar.

From Project Gutenberg

He and Queeker stood in the passage and saw the bed, the invalid, and the watcher through an inner door which stood ajar.

From Project Gutenberg

I went to the stranger's room, and listened at his door, which was slightly ajar.

From Project Gutenberg

With our door ajar we watched the ghastly struggle between the faithful mongrel and the assassin.

From Project Gutenberg