wag

[ wag ]

/ wæg /

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See synonyms for: wag / wagged / wagging / wagger on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), wagged, wag·ging.

to move from side to side, forward and backward, or up and down, especially rapidly and repeatedly: a dog wagging its tail.

to move (the tongue), as in idle or indiscreet chatter.

to shake (a finger) at someone, as in reproach.

to move or nod (the head).

verb (used without object), wagged, wag·ging.

to be moved from side to side or one way and the other, especially rapidly and repeatedly, as the head or the tail.

to move constantly, especially in idle or indiscreet chatter: Her behavior caused local tongues to wag.

to get along; travel; proceed: Let the world wag how it will.

to totter or sway.

British Slang. to play truant; play hooky.

noun

the act of wagging: a friendly wag of the tail.

a person given to droll, roguish, or mischievous humor; wit.

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Origin of wag

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English waggen, from Old Norse vaga “to sway,” or from vagga “cradle”

OTHER WORDS FROM wag

wagger, nounun·wagged, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for wag

But after consulting with his boss, the second guard also wagged his head.
Pope Francis, ‘the Maker of Traffic Jams’|Mac Margolis|July 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If only salespeople were fuzzy and wagged their tails more, they'd probably find it easier to cooperate with the inevitable.
The Economics of Puppy Management|Megan McArdle|February 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Seneschal blew out his cheeks almost to bursting point, then wagged his head and smiled wistfully.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
"I think we have exchanged compliments enough," said he, and Fortunio wagged his head approvingly.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

The dwarf wagged his ears after his wont, to show how highly he prized such praise.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
She boar an exlent, irreprotchable character, against which the tongue of scandal never wagged.
Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush|William Makepeace Thackeray
The men ran up in real alarm; Carlo wagged his tail as soon as they came near him, but he did not get up.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend|Charles Reade

British Dictionary definitions for wag (1 of 4)

wag¹

/ (wæɡ) /

verb wags, wagging or wagged

to move or cause to move rapidly and repeatedly from side to side or up and down

to move (the tongue) or (of the tongue) to be moved rapidly in talking, esp in idle gossip

to move (the finger) or (of the finger) to be moved from side to side, in or as in admonition

slang to play truant (esp in the phrase wag it)

noun

the act or an instance of wagging

Word Origin for wag

C13: from Old English wagian to shake; compare Old Norse vagga cradle

British Dictionary definitions for wag (2 of 4)

wag²

/ (wæɡ) /

noun

a humorous or jocular person; wit

Derived forms of wag

waggery, nounwaggish, adjectivewaggishly, adverbwaggishness, noun

Word Origin for wag

C16: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for wag (3 of 4)

Wag

/ (wæɡ) /

noun

informal the wife or girlfriend of a famous sportsman

Word Origin for Wag

C21: a back formation from an acronym for w (ives) a (nd) g (irlfriends)

British Dictionary definitions for wag (4 of 4)

WAG

abbreviation for

(West Africa) Gambia (international car registration)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with wag

wag

see tail wagging the dog; tongues wag.

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wag

verb (used with object), wagged, wag·ging.

verb (used without object), wagged, wag·ging.

noun