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

Resources groups that have not fared so well in 2025 -- iron ore behemoth Rio Tinto and Anglo American -- are ramping up production of copper to help offset sagging demand for steel and diamonds.

From Barron's

An index tracking contract signings to buy a home, which lead home closings by a month or two, sagged to a reading of 70.9 nationally in January, the trade group said.

From Barron's

I carefully unwind the napkin scarf from Pierre’s sagging exterior.

From Literature

Her eyes were tired and sagged like tea bags, but she still smiled warmly at him.

From Literature

Or I should say, the ceiling sagged down and rested on top of the bookcase.

From Literature

Related Words

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