jab

[ jab ]
See synonyms for: jabjabbed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),jabbed, jab·bing.
  1. to poke, or thrust abruptly or sharply, as with the end or point of a stick or with the finger or elbow.

  2. to punch with a short, quick blow.

  1. 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.
  1. to poke or punch with a sharp, quick blow.

noun
  1. a poke with the end or point of something; a sharp, quick thrust.

  2. a short, quick punch.

  1. Informal. a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine: Have you gotten your flu jab yet?

  2. Informal. an abrupt insult or critical remark: That guy has no problem responding with a sarcastic jab.

  3. 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.

Origin of jab

1
First recorded in 1825–35; variant, originally Scots, of job2

Other words from jab

  • jab·bing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby jab

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use jab in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jab

jab

/ (dʒæb) /


verbjabs, jabbing or jabbed
  1. to poke or thrust sharply

  2. to strike with a quick short blow or blows

noun
  1. a sharp poke or stab

  2. a quick short blow, esp (in boxing) a straight punch with the leading hand

  1. informal an injection: polio jabs

Origin of jab

1
C19: originally Scottish variant of job

Derived forms of jab

  • jabbing, adjective
  • jabbingly, adverb

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