jab

American  

[jab] / dʒæb /

verb (used with object)

jabbed, jabbing

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.

3. Informal. to give (a person) a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine: I jab myself with insulin twice a day.

   Here’s a list of the countries you can visit if you haven’t been jabbed.

   I jab myself with insulin twice a day.

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verb (used without object)

jabbed, jabbing

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.

3. Informal. a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine.

   Have you gotten your flu jab yet?

4. Informal. an abrupt insult or critical remark.

   That guy has no problem responding with a sarcastic jab.

5. a sudden and unpleasant sensation or emotion: He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.

   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.

jab British  

/ dʒæb /

verb

1. to poke or thrust sharply

2. to strike with a quick short blow or blows

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noun

1. a sharp poke or stab

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

3. informal an injection

   polio jabs

Other Word Forms

• jabbing adjective
• jabbingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of jab

First recorded in 1825–35; variant, originally Scots, of job ²

Example Sentences

Pakistan's defence minister, whose government has offered to host talks between Iranian and American envoys to stop the war, appeared to take a jab at the US operation that has closed the key waterway.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

The first student to get the jab – 22-year-old Oliver Contreras – said he was happy to have received one before he headed to his home in Brighton, East Sussex.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Oliver Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, told BBC Radio 5 Live that his pharmacies were getting a booking for a jab every two to three minutes with more than 100 overnight.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

From the stage, O’Brien took a light jab at Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos to that effect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

I reached over and gave him a stupidly affectionate jab on the shoulder.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• dig
• punch