to sink or bend downward by weight or pressure, especially in the middle.
The roof sags.
to hang down unevenly; droop.
Her skirt was sagging.
to droop; hang loosely.
His shoulders sagged.
to yield through weakness, lack of effort, or the like.
Our spirits began to sag.
to decline, as in price.
The stock market sagged today.
Nautical.
(of a hull) to droop at the center or have excessive sheer because of structural weakness.
to be driven to leeward; to make too much leeway.
an act or instance of sagging.
the degree of sagging.
a place where anything sags; depression.
a moderate decline in prices.
Nautical.
deflection downward of a hull amidships, due to structural weakness.
(also tr) to sink or cause to sink in parts, as under weight or pressure
the bed sags in the middle
to fall in value
prices sagged to a new low
to hang unevenly; droop
(of courage, spirits, etc) to weaken; flag
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)
When something sags, it leans, settles, or droops. If your bed sags in the middle, it can be hard to get a good night's sleep. When you're tired, your whole body may sag, drooping with exhaustion. And older people are sometimes surprised to look in the mirror and see that their faces are beginning to sag with age. Objects sag too, with weight or age: "The porch on that old house has started to sag — the whole thing may need to be torn down." Sag is probably related to the Old Norse sokkva, "to sink."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
National rail said heat can cause overhead lines to expand and sag, line-side fires and also rails to buckle.
From BBC ● May 26, 2026
Tables that seemed to sag gently under the weight of carbohydrates.
From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2026
His investment provided a jolt of support for Nike, which has been plotting a turnaround after losing ground to rivals and seeing sales sag.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025
Comcast, parent of NBCUniversal, has seen its stock sag over the past five years, which some skeptical of its play for Warner say could create challenges in funding a competitive offer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025
Kim’s voice is strong and firm, but his shoulders sag.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
The pending contract will improve AI protections, streaming residuals and merge SAG and AFTRA’s pension plans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
The Actor Awards, previously known as the SAG Awards, will stream live this Sunday on Netflix.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2026
The SAG Awards are voted for by fellow actors.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026
"I think 'Sinners' is almost certainly going to win the Best Ensemble SAG Award," Scott Feinberg, awards columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Mar. 1, 2026
The ceremony, formerly known as the SAG Awards, celebrates the best on-screen performances in TV and film of last year.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026
China’s government is pouring money into AI, electric cars and military power, while consumer confidence sags and the job market grows bleak.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
Home buyers are scoring the biggest discounts in over a decade as the housing market sags from weak demand.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 2, 2026
Gold and stocks have been rallying together to record highs, as the dollar sags and bond yields go sideways.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2025
“As that jet stream sags further and further south, we start seeing more frequent chances of rain.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2023
I can’t see what else is inside but it’s a lot heavier than any baby, based on the way the pram’s bottom sags.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Two load-bearing columns of a 37-story tower currently under construction, located near Grand Central Terminal, warped and several floors sagged on Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
Upper rows sagged where damaged ones had lost their sand but the bluff was more intact.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
This week, that mark had sagged to 40%, as shown in the chart below.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026
Contract signings sagged in the Northeast and Midwest, dropping a seasonally adjusted 8.3% and 3.3% from last January’s level.
From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026
His face sagged every time Mother turned a woman away.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
If sagging cables touch trees or buildings below, that could cause an accident or power failure.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
A spokesman for Poland's long-distance rail operator, PKP Intercity, told AFP the heatwave was expected to affect traffic, with overhead power lines sagging and rails deforming.
From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026
Middle and lower-income households are facing the most pressure, and until the war ends, “they will have little choice but to rein in their spending, weighing further on the sagging economy.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 2, 2026
Exhibit C: The Lakers are putting the ball in Smart’s hands, using him in a way that forces the Rockets to defend honestly, instead of sagging off him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
The small group stands staring at the sagging tire a moment, the two men kicking at it as if punishing it for having failed the señorita.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
