jab

[ jab ]

/ dʒæb /

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See synonyms for: jab / jabbed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), jabbed, jab·bing.

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: 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), jabbed, jab·bing.

to poke or punch with a sharp, quick blow.

noun

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: 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.

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Origin of jab

First recorded in 1825–35; variant, originally Scots, of job²

OTHER WORDS FROM jab

jab·bing·ly, adverb

Words nearby jab

izzard, izzat, j, ja, jaap, jab, Jabal, Jabalpur, Jabari, jabber, Jabberwocky

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use jab in a sentence

An employee who works in a busy store or crowded office, for instance, would likely have to get a jab, while someone who mostly works by themselves might not.
Can your boss make you get a COVID vaccine? Probably|Jeff|November 29, 2020|Fortune
For more than three hours on Wednesday, Democrat and Republican senators took jabs at Facebook, Twitter, and Google, saying that they disseminate misinformation, spark violence, and suppress conservative voices.
4 key moments from the Senate’s showdown with Big Tech CEOs|Danielle Abril|October 28, 2020|Fortune
To put it differently, it’s why boxers lead with the jab and don’t start their fights throwing haymakers.
The Heat Took A Page From The Lakers’ Playbook|Michael Pina|October 6, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
When the Clippers called for a post-up, Leonard routinely had the defense right where he wanted it — be it after a series of fluttering jab steps from the mid-post, or a methodical backdown that eventually concluded with him muscling through contact.
If Kawhi Turns His Back To The Basket, Watch Out|Michael Pina|September 3, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

China’s Central Military Commission gave the go-ahead in June to vaccinate soldiers with a jab developed by CanSino Biologics in partnership with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences.
China has been vaccinating key workers with unapproved COVID-19 vaccines for weeks|eamonbarrett|August 24, 2020|Fortune
Maybe you think Botox is no big deal—a quick lunchtime jab to freshen up the face?
Nicole Kidman Botox Insanity: Why All Women Lose Out When We Obsess Over Stars’ Faces|Emma Woolf|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This could be construed as a jab at Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who is actively considering both.
Forget the White House, Marco Rubio Might Be Lucky Just to Be Reelected|Myra Adams|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A little global economics-based jab alongside the political insults.
Putin Vs. Obama—In Spandex: Wrestling’s New Cold War|Tim Teeman|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This has been the animating spirit behind Lincoln, which was read as an implicit jab at Obama.
‘Breaking Bad’ in the White House: Bryan Cranston as LBJ in 'All the Way'|David Freedlander|March 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was the jab at a blue-haired Liza Minnelli, claiming she was a man in drag masquerading as the Oscar winning legend.
Surprise! Ellen DeGeneres is the Best Oscars Host in a Decade|Marlow Stern|March 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I just got out iv th' back dure in time to escape a jab in th' spine fr'm a German that I niver see befure.
Mr. Dooley Says|Finley Dunne
If I see another one, I'll jab him with one of these knitting needles.
Tom Slade with the Colors|Percy K. Fitzhugh
I still have the reach, and I was able to protect myself by a frequent use of a lightning left jab.
Seeing Things at Night|Heywood Broun
When I said this, I turned to jab a claw at the other priests, using the motion to cover my flicking a coin grenade toward them.
The Repairman|Harry Harrison
I would make fur the doctor and draw my spear back to jab it clean through him, and Watty would grab my arm.
Danny's Own Story|Don Marquis

British Dictionary definitions for jab

jab

/ (dʒæb) /

verb jabs, jabbing or jabbed

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 injectionpolio jabs

Derived forms of jab

jabbing, adjectivejabbingly, adverb

Word Origin for jab

C19: originally Scottish variant of job

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012