juggle

American  

[juhg-uhl] / ˈdʒʌg əl /

verb (used with object)

juggled, juggling

1. to keep (several objects, as balls, plates, tenpins, or knives) in continuous motion in the air simultaneously by tossing and catching.

2. to hold, catch, carry, or balance precariously; almost drop and then catch hold again.

   The center fielder juggled the ball but finally made the catch.

3. to alter or manipulate in order to deceive, as by subterfuge or trickery.

   to juggle the business accounts; to juggle the facts.

4. to manage or alternate the requirements of (two or more tasks, responsibilities, activities, etc.) so as to handle each adequately.

   to juggle the obligations of job and school.

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verb (used without object)

juggled, juggling

1. to perform feats of manual or bodily dexterity, as tossing up and keeping in continuous motion a number of balls, plates, knives, etc.

2. to use artifice or trickery.

noun

1. the act or fact of juggling.

juggle British  

/ ˈdʒʌɡəl /

verb

1. to throw and catch (several objects) continuously so that most are in the air all the time, as an entertainment

2. to arrange or manipulate (facts, figures, etc) so as to give a false or misleading picture

3. (tr) to keep (several activities) in progress, esp with difficulty

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noun

1. an act of juggling

Other Word Forms

• jugglery
  noun
• jugglingly
  adverb
• outjuggle
  verb (used with object)
• unjuggled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of juggle

1350–1400; Middle English jog ( e ) len < Old French jogler to serve as buffoon or jester < Late Latin joculāre to joke (replacing Latin joculārī ), equivalent to Latin jocul ( us ) ( joc ( us ) joke + -ulus -ule ) + -āre infinitive suffix

Explanation

To juggle is to toss several items in the air and keep them moving from hand to hand, with at least one of them suspended at any given moment. Most beginners learn to juggle using balls or beanbags, not knives. A skilled juggler can juggle stuffed animals or oranges, or even knives and flaming torches. It's also possible to figuratively juggle, like when you juggle three jobs at once or juggle your responsibilities as a student, pet owner, and friend. In these examples, you manage several things at the same time. Juggle comes from the Old French jogler, "play tricks or sing songs," from the Latin root ioculari, "to jest."

Example Sentences

He has a turret phone system that allows him to have multiple open phone lines, and it’s not uncommon for Paci to juggle three sets at once.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Retailer earnings this week could offer a glimpse at consumer spending trends as households juggle rising utility and gasoline prices and higher prices for groceries.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Reflecting that political juggle, NextEra and Dominion are proposing to give $2.25 billion in bill credits to customers to sweeten the deal with federal and state regulators.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

But the proposed merger would saddle the combined company with $79 billion in debt, stoking fears that Paramount would be forced to make steep cost cuts to juggle such a large debt load.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

And even with help, the Friedmans had a lot to juggle.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• alter
• shuffle