sag

¹ American  

[sag] / sæg /

verb (used without object)

sagged, sagging

1. to sink or bend downward by weight or pressure, especially in the middle.

   The roof sags.

2. to hang down unevenly; droop.

   Her skirt was sagging.

3. to droop; hang loosely.

   His shoulders sagged.

4. to yield through weakness, lack of effort, or the like.

   Our spirits began to sag.

   Synonyms:

   weary, tire, flag, weaken

5. to decline, as in price.

   The stock market sagged today.

6. Nautical.

   1. (of a hull) to droop at the center or have excessive sheer because of structural weakness.

   2. to be driven to leeward; to make too much leeway.

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verb (used with object)

sagged, sagging

1. to cause to sag.

noun

1. an act or instance of sagging.

2. the degree of sagging.

3. a place where anything sags; depression.

4. a moderate decline in prices.

5. Nautical.

   1. deflection downward of a hull amidships, due to structural weakness.

   2. leeway.

SAG ² American  

[sag] / sæg /

noun

1. Screen Actors Guild.

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sag British  

/ sæɡ /

verb

1. (also tr) to sink or cause to sink in parts, as under weight or pressure

   the bed sags in the middle

2. to fall in value

   prices sagged to a new low

3. to hang unevenly; droop

4. (of courage, spirits, etc) to weaken; flag

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noun

1. the act or an instance of sagging

   a sag in profits

2. nautical the extent to which a vessel's keel sags at the centre Compare hog hogged

3. 1. a marshy depression in an area of glacial till, chiefly in the US Middle West

   2. ( as modifier )

      sag and swell topography

Other Word Forms

• antisag adjective
• unsagging adjective

Etymology

Origin of sag

1375–1425; late Middle English saggen (v.), probably < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian sagga to move slowly (akin to Low German sacken to sink, Norwegian, Danish sakke, Swedish sacka, Icelandic sakka to slow up, fall behind)

Example Sentences

Tables that seemed to sag gently under the weight of carbohydrates.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

Our efforts tend to sag when we feel comfortable in our roles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 18, 2025

He said these are questions that require more research, and can continue to build on these sag pond findings.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2024

Most of this fuel spilled into a fire suppression line and sat there for six months, causing the line to sag.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2024

He was mostly dead weight, and I felt his head bounce softly on my shoulder and his body sag against me like a big damp loaf.

From "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

Related Words

• cave in
• dip
• drop off
• fall off
• languish
• sink
• slide
• slip
• slump
• wilt