rig

American  

[rig] / rɪg /

verb (used with object)

rigged, rigging

1. Chiefly Nautical.

   1. to put in proper order for working or use.

   2. to fit (a ship, mast, etc.) with the necessary shrouds, stays, etc.

   3. to fit (shrouds, stays, sails, etc.) to the mast, yard, or the like.

2. to manipulate fraudulently.

   Two leading companies in the industry were fined for rigging prices.

3. to assemble, install, or prepare (often followed byup ).

4. to furnish or provide with equipment, clothing, etc.; fit (usually followed by out orup ).

   The ground crew rigged us out in leather helmets and bomber jackets.

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noun

1. the arrangement of the masts, spars, sails, etc., on a boat or ship.

2. apparatus for some purpose; equipment; outfit; gear.

   Bring your rod and reel and all the rest of your fishing rig.

   This other PC over here is my main gaming rig.

3. Also called drill rig.  the equipment used in drilling an oil well.

4. any combination trucking unit in which vehicles are hooked together, as a tractor-trailer.

5. any kind of truck.

6. a carriage, buckboard, sulky, or wagon together with the horse or horses that draw it.

7. Informal. costume or dress, especially when odd or conspicuous, or when designated for a particular purpose.

   He looks quite nifty in a butler's rig.

verb phrase

1. rig up to equip or set up for use.

2. rig down to place in an inactive state, stowing all lines, tackles, and other removable parts.

rig ¹ British  

/ rɪɡ /

verb

1. nautical to equip (a vessel, mast, etc) with (sails, rigging, etc)

2. nautical to set up or prepare ready for use

3. to put the components of (an aircraft, etc) into their correct positions

4. to manipulate in a fraudulent manner, esp for profit

   to rig prices

   to rig an election

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noun

1. nautical the distinctive arrangement of the sails, masts, and other spars of a vessel

2. In full: drilling rig.  the installation used in drilling for and exploiting natural oil and gas deposits

   an oil rig

3. apparatus or equipment; gear

4. an amateur radio operator's transmitting and receiving set

5. a carriage together with one or more horses

6. an articulated lorry

rig ² British  

/ rɪɡ /

noun

1. dialect a ridge or raised strip of unploughed land in a ploughed field

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Other Word Forms

• outrig verb (used with object)
• overrigged adjective
• underrigged adjective

Etymology

Origin of rig

First recorded in 1480–90; 1930–35 rig for def. 2; probably from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish rigg (noun), rigga (verb)

Example Sentences

Murdoch uses a harvesting rig for leeks, but this year, because rain has forced dirt between the leaves, they are being gathered by hand into which affects his planning and costs.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

AI capacity can be added far quicker to the electrical grid via solar panels, he says, while building a nuclear power plant, oil rig, or gas pipeline takes years.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

Manipulators can also rig the outcome of bets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

The big rig has a panoramic, wraparound windshield providing exceptional visibility and a futuristic appearance.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

She finds a spare belt and shows me how to rig it up with a sanitary pad.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• falsify
• fix
• manipulate
• tamper with