juggle

[ juhg-uhl ]

verb (used with object)

, jug·gled, jug·gling.

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.

verb (used without object)

, jug·gled, jug·gling.

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

/ 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

noun

1. an act of juggling

Derived Forms

• ˈjugglery, noun

Other Words From

• juggling·ly adverb
• outjuggle verb (used with object) outjuggled outjuggling
• un·juggled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of juggle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of juggle¹

C14: from Old French jogler to perform as a jester, from Latin joculārī to jest, from jocus a jest

Example Sentences

His thankfully negative result took 48 hours to come in, resulting in two days of missed camp and the all too familiar work-parenting juggle.

From Science News

He hopes to go to Stanford and major in computer science, but for now he has to juggle homework with his online vigilante persona.

From The Daily Beast

Even if you think they're evil enough to juggle the jobs figures, it's probably too late to do the president any good.

From The Daily Beast

Well, a bear can juggle and stand on a ball and he's talented, but he's not famous.

From The Daily Beast

When they did, the guys suddenly had two sets of girls at the house to juggle, and neither pair knew about the other.

From The Daily Beast

He managed to juggle a challenging workload and foster good relations among officials at various agencies.

From The Daily Beast

A frind iv mine wanst got full iv kerosene an' attempted to juggle a polisman.

From Project Gutenberg

Through her tears his meagre face showed as a seraph's who spoke the truth and forbade her to juggle with her soul.

From Project Gutenberg

He was all in white, his waistcoat had long sleeves, and every minute it seemed as if he must begin to juggle with glasses.

From Project Gutenberg

He couldn't even juggle one foot backward and forward without correction.

From Project Gutenberg

My thoughts merely revel and juggle with them, picture and legend—they are pastimes of my child-self.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alter
• shuffle