a container or receptacle of leather, plastic, cloth, paper, etc., capable of being closed at the mouth; pouch.
something resembling or suggesting such a receptacle.
a suitcase or other portable container for carrying articles, as in traveling.
the amount or quantity a bag can hold.
any of various measures of capacity.
a sac, as in an animal body.
an udder.
Slang. a small glassine or cellophane envelope containing a narcotic drug or a mixture of narcotics.
something hanging in a loose, pouchlike manner, as skin or cloth; a baggy part.
He had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep.
Baseball. base.
Hunting. the amount of game taken, especially by one hunter in one hunting trip or over a specified period.
Slang.
a person's avocation, hobby, major interest, or obsession.
Jazz isn't my bag.
a person's mood or frame of mind.
The boss is in a mean bag today.
an environment, condition, or situation.
bags,
Informal. plenty; much; many (usually followed byof ).
bags of time; bags of money.
Slang. trousers.
to swell or bulge.
A stiff breeze made the sails bag out.
to hang loosely like an empty bag.
His socks bagged at the ankles.
to pack groceries or other items into a bag.
Slang. to criticize, disparage, or dismiss a person or thing (usually followed byon ).
Stop bagging on me!
to cause to swell or bulge; distend.
The wind bagged the curtain.
to put into a bag.
Informal. to kill or catch, as in hunting.
I bagged my first deer when I was a teenager.
Slang. to quit, abandon, or skip (often used in the phrasebag it ): We'd better bag the deal.
I bagged my math class today.
We'd better bag the deal.
I was working too hard so I decided to bag it.
Slang. to criticize, disparage, or dismiss.
Don’t bag my vegan diet—I feel great since I started it.
Theater. clew.
bag of tricks, a supply of expedient resources; stratagems.
Maybe they will finally be honest with us, once they've run through their bag of tricks.
bag and baggage,
with all one's personal property.
When they went to collect the rent, they found he had left, bag and baggage.
completely; totally.
The equipment had disappeared, bag and baggage, without even the slightest trace.
in the bag, virtually certain; assured; definite: The sale of the house is in the bag.
Her promotion is in the bag.
The sale of the house is in the bag.
old bag, an unattractive, often slatternly woman.
a gossipy old bag.
leave holding the bag / sack, to force to bear the entire blame, responsibility, or loss that was to have been shared.
His accomplices flew to South America and he was left holding the bag.
bag of bones, an emaciated person or animal.
a flexible container with an opening at one end
Also called: bagful. the contents of or amount contained in such a container
any of various measures of quantity, such as a bag containing 1 hundredweight of coal
a piece of portable luggage
short for handbag
anything that hangs loosely, sags, or is shaped like a bag, such as a loose fold of skin under the eyes or the bulging part of a sail
any pouch or sac forming part of the body of an animal, esp the udder of a cow
hunting the quantity of quarry taken in a single hunting trip or by a single hunter
derogatory an ugly or bad-tempered woman (often in the phrase old bag )
slang a measure of marijuana, heroin, etc, in folded paper
slang a person's particular taste, field of skill, interest, activity, etc
blues is his bag
informal
with all one's belongings
entirely
a lean creature
slang almost assured of succeeding or being obtained
informal every device; everything
(tr) to put into a bag
to bulge or cause to bulge; swell
(tr) to capture or kill, as in hunting
(tr) to catch, seize, or steal
(intr) to hang loosely; sag
(tr) to achieve or accomplish
she bagged seven birdies
informal (tr) to reserve or secure the right to do or to have something
he bagged the best chair
slang (tr) to criticize; disparage
Although bag and sack are both used everywhere throughout the U.S., the more commonly used word in the North Midland U.S. is bag and in the South Midland is sack.
First recorded in 1200–50; 1920–25 bag for def. 31; Middle English bagge, from Old Norse baggi “pack, bundle, bag”
A bag is a lightweight, flexible container meant for carrying things. A grocery bag is one you bring home from the supermarket full of food. In some places the word sack is more common, but the handled container you get at the store when you buy something is usually called a bag. You can also refer to a suitcase, handbag, or purse as a bag. When the word is used as a verb, it can mean "to put in a bag," but also "to catch something." Figuratively, you can "be left holding the bag," which means to be swindled or cheated.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A statement from Easyjet said: "Due to a water supply issue affecting London Gatwick Airport, bag drop desks are temporarily opening two hours before departure instead of three hours."
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
The two of them only had time to grab a small bag each, containing a few clothes and some medication.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
A trash bag in the garage and some of its contents also tested positive for indicators of blood, she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Are Cartier Love bracelets about to replace the Hermès Birkin bag as the product that drives the best shareholder returns in the luxury-goods industry?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
I started walking over again, but when Jessica lifted the bag across the walk to the car, I stopped again.
From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott
Design features include hidden pockets in waist bands, thumb holes, and badge sashes which double as cross-body bags.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
The airline said: "Please do not arrive earlier, as you will not be able to drop off your bags or enter the departure lounge until bag drop opens."
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Some evacuees have brought their cats and dogs with them, and bags of pet food and cat litter have been made available.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
I checked my teeth in the visor mirror and was immediately horrified by thick saggy jowls, eye bags and liver spots.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
One table handed out bags of chips and bottles of water and apples and bananas.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
In the past, foods including bagged salad mixes, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas and scallions have been linked to cyclosporiasis.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Americans may also want to consider other precautions, like not buying bagged lettuce or salad kits.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
In 2024, after a decade, California bagged the top spot with 57 companies on the list, while Texas and New York tied in second with 52 companies each.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026
Striker Haaland bagged 27 goals to win the league's golden boot, while Cherki enjoyed a successful first season in the Premier League.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
Jorge Cruz played idly with the cards as Mr. Rodriguez bagged Angela’s purchases.
From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers
Bellingham scored on his debut for Dortmund, bagging the second goal in a 5-0 win over Duisburg in the German Cup.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Deutch is perfect casting for plucky Gail, who commits to bagging Hamm with such gumption that she jumps on a hotel mattress like a little kid.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
While Mr. Fryer was bagging produce as a teenager at Albertsons, I was slinging barbecue sandwiches over a steam table at our local drive-in to help cover my upcoming college expenses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
For Jane, it’s either that or bagging groceries at Trader Joe’s.
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026
Meanwhile, at school, I still kept plowing along, practicing drums, writing journals, completely bagging all of my homework assignments, and faking human interaction with the people around me.
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
Definitions 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.
