jog
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to move or shake with a push or jerk.
The horseman jogged the reins lightly.
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to cause to function with a jolt for a moment or in a series of disconnected motions.
He jogged the motor and started the machine.
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to push slightly, as to arouse the attention; nudge.
She jogged his elbow when she wanted to be introduced to one of his friends.
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to stir or jolt into activity or alertness, as by a hint or reminder.
to jog a person's memory.
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to cause (a horse) to go at a steady trot.
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Printing. to align the edges of (a stack of sheets of paper of the same size) by gently tapping.
verb (used without object)
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to run at a leisurely, slow pace, especially as an outdoor exercise.
He jogs two miles every morning to keep in shape.
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to run or ride at a steady trot.
They jogged to the stable.
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to move with a jolt or jerk.
Her briefcase jogged against her leg as she walked.
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to go or travel with a jolting pace or motion.
The clumsy cart jogged down the bumpy road.
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to go in a desultory or humdrum fashion (usually followed by on oralong ).
He just jogged along, getting by however he could.
noun
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a shake; slight push; nudge.
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a steady trot, as of a horse.
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an act, instance, or period of jogging.
to go for a jog before breakfast.
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a jogging pace.
He approached us at a jog.
noun
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an irregularity of line or surface; projection; notch.
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a bend or turn.
a country road full of sudden jogs.
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Theater. a narrow flat placed at right angles to another flat to make a corner, used especially in sets representing an interior.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(intr) to run or move slowly or at a jog trot, esp for physical exercise
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(intr; foll by on or along) to continue in a plodding way
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(tr) to jar or nudge slightly; shake lightly
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(tr) to remind; stimulate
please jog my memory
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(tr) printing to even up the edges of (a stack of paper); square up
noun
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the act of jogging
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a slight jar or nudge
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a jogging motion; trot
noun
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a sharp protruding point in a surface; jag
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a sudden change in course or direction
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of jog1
First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain; perhaps a blend of jot “to jog” (now dialectal) + shog ( def. )
Origin of jog2
First recorded in 1705–15; variant of jag 1
Explanation
When you jog, you run at a moderate pace, usually to get exercise. If you jog down the street, you'll pass people who are walking and be passed by people who are sprinting. Jog can be a verb, or a noun meaning a slow-paced run: "She moved at a lazy jog around the track, in no hurry to improve her time." A jog is slower than a flat-out run. Yet another way to use the word is to mean "nudge one's memory." A courtroom attorney might hold up a piece of evidence in front of a witness and say, "Perhaps this will jog your memory."
Vocabulary lists containing jog
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Northern Territory Police Force Commissioner Martin Dole said that 25 years was a "significant milestone" and that he hoped the release of new images could jog memories or lead to a tip-off.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
And then there’s Early, who opens the film running through the streets on Maddie’s morning jog to work.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
He was in his 80s but was saying, “I used to be able to jog with more weights.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2026
Capt. Zefanus Waruwu was ordering his nine fellow Indonesian crew to sing, jog and do push-ups on deck, “to keep motivation up,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
Hunger, ever at hand to jog his elbow should he relax.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
He jogged into the toilets, changed his clothes and hurriedly left the site.
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
All Chelsea's outfield players jogged over to the technical area to get instructions.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026
He jogged out of the tunnel and acted as if he would throw a backflip.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
“I gotta go,” he snapped and jogged off.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2025
He looked at Coach in disbelief and jogged off.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
The older boy got on a bus while the 16-year-old removed his blood-stained jogging bottoms and threw them over a wall.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, dancing or jogging stimulate bone formation by placing strain on the skeleton.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
Elon Musk loves to show off his Optimus prototype, recently filmed jogging in short strides.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
His training was jogging on a treadmill for two miles and maybe getting eight to 10 miles a week.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
From the balcony, we could watch the athletes from all over the world coming and going to the surrounding buildings, jogging along the footpaths, or doing laps in the pool.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
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.
