jerk

[ jurk ]

/ dʒɜrk /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: jerk / jerked / jerking on Thesaurus.com

noun

a quick, sharp pull, thrust, twist, throw, or the like; a sudden movement: The train started with a jerk.

a spasmodic, usually involuntary, muscular movement, as the reflex action of pulling the hand away from a flame.

any sudden, quick movement of the body, as in dodging something.

Slang. a contemptibly naive, fatuous, foolish, or inconsequential person.

(in weightlifting) the raising of a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms.

jerks, British Informal. physical jerks.

a dance, deriving from the twist, in which the dancers alternately thrust out their pelvises and their shoulders.

the jerks, paroxysms or violent spasmodic muscular movements, as resulting from excitement evoked by some religious services.

verb (used with object)

to pull, twist, move, thrust, or throw with a quick, suddenly arrested motion: She jerked the child by the hand.

to utter in a broken, spasmodic way.

Informal. to prepare, dispense, and serve (sodas, ice cream, etc.) at a soda fountain.

verb (used without object)

to give a jerk or jerks.

to move with a quick, sharp motion; move spasmodically.

to talk in a broken, spasmodic way.

Informal. to work as a soda jerk.

to dance the jerk.

Verb Phrases

jerk off, Slang: Vulgar. to masturbate.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”

Question 1 of 7

The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

affect

effect

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of jerk

First recorded in 1540–50; 1935–40 for def. 4; earlier gi(e)rk, ierke; origin uncertain; perhaps dialectal variant of yerk “to draw stitches tight” (shoemaker's term), thus making the shoe ready to wear, from Old English gearcian “to prepare, make ready”

OTHER WORDS FROM jerk

jerker, nounjerk·ing·ly, adverb

Other definitions for jerk (2 of 2)

jerk²

[ jurk ]

/ dʒɜrk /

verb (used with object)

to preserve (meat, especially beef) by cutting in strips and curing by drying in the sun.

adjective

being or containing a spicy seasoning mixture flavored with allspice, used especially in Jamaican cooking: jerk sauce.

prepared with jerk flavorings, especially by barbecuing or grilling: jerk chicken.

noun

jerky².

Origin of jerk

First recorded in 1700–10; back formation from jerky²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use jerk in a sentence

The upward jerking motion keeps fluid from dripping into the air below.
How physics lets a toy boat float upside down|Maria Temming|October 7, 2020|Science News For Students
Jobs has been associated with a belief that his undoubted genius excused any kind of behavior, even to the point where many believe a founder actually has to be a jerk to be a genius.
How to fix Silicon Valley|jakemeth|October 4, 2020|Fortune
Imagine you work in an office where your boss, who you think is a jerk, needs your help to finish his projects.
The definitive case for ending the filibuster|Ezra Klein|October 1, 2020|Vox
A few months into my often twice-weekly trips to Top Taste, I asked Sammy how he made his jerk chicken.
Until I Can Go Back to My Favorite Restaurant, This Jerk Paste Is the Next Best Thing|Elazar Sontag|September 25, 2020|Eater

Use this knee-jerk reaction to send web traffic in your direction by adding specific content on your website that answer their questions.
Seven tips for full funnel SEO in 2020|Erica Magnotto|June 1, 2020|Search Engine Watch
The guard shoved him against the wall, jerked his hands behind him and handcuffed him.
The Cost: What Stop and Frisk Does to a Young Man’s Soul|Rilla Askew|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If she were in a panic, or terrified, or jerked awake during a fire, she would not remember how to produce those American sounds.
This Week’s Hot Reads: May 20, 2013|Cameron Martin, Jessica Ferri, Jimmy So|May 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“I got jerked both ways in the car, hit my head on the divider, and then hit my legs on the side of the car,” he says.
Ezra Miller on ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower,’ Being Bisexual & More|Marlow Stern|September 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He jerked the window up with such force that it jammed after having opened only five inches.
Exclusive Excerpt: MLK's Haunting Final Hours|Hampton Sides|April 24, 2010|DAILY BEAST
While Roth is clearly annoyed at being "jerked around," others say it might make sense for Lautner to book projects fast.
Is He Sabotaging His Career?|Kim Masters|March 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
She sat straight up in bed, and jerked her hands to her head, and screamed long and terribly.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
"Here's my authority, yuh blasted runt," he yelled, and jerked his six-shooter to a level with the policeman's breast.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
It took twenty Eskimos to hold it when allowed full play, and even these it jerked about in a manner that highly diverted them.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
My hand flew to mine as I jerked the dun up short, but I wasn't fast enough—and Hicks was too close.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
From the moment that they jerked up their horses at MacRae's call, I had an odd sense of impending trouble.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (1 of 2)

jerk¹

/ (dʒɜːk) /

verb

to move or cause to move with an irregular or spasmodic motion

to throw, twist, pull, or push (something) abruptly or spasmodically

(tr often foll by out) to utter (words, sounds, etc) in a spasmodic, abrupt, or breathless manner

noun

an abrupt or spasmodic movement

an irregular jolting motionthe car moved with a jerk

Also called: physical jerks (plural) British informal physical exercises

(plural) US a slang word for chorea

slang, mainly US and Canadian a person regarded with contempt, esp a stupid or ignorant person

Derived forms of jerk

jerker, nounjerking, adjective, noun

Word Origin for jerk

C16: probably variant of yerk to pull stitches tight in making a shoe; compare Old English gearcian to make ready

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (2 of 2)

jerk²

/ (dʒɜːk) /

verb (tr)

to preserve (venison, beef, etc) by cutting into thin strips and curing by drying in the sun

noun

Also called: jerky jerked meat, esp beef

Word Origin for jerk

C18: back formation from jerky, from charqui

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

Medical definitions for jerk

jerk

[ jûrk ]

To make spasmodic motions.

A sudden reflexive or spasmodic muscular movement.deep reflex

jerks Involuntary convulsive twitching often resulting from excitement. Often used with the.

jerk

Origin of jerk

OTHER WORDS FROM jerk

Other definitions for jerk (2 of 2)

Origin of jerk

Words related to jerk

How to use jerk in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (1 of 2)

Derived forms of jerk

Word Origin for jerk

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (2 of 2)

Word Origin for jerk

Medical definitions for jerk