zig

American  

[zig] / zɪg /

verb (used without object)

zigged, zigging

1. to move in one of the two directions followed in a zigzag course.

   He zigged when he should have zagged.

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Usage

What does zig mean? Zig is an informal verb that means to move in one of the directions in a zigzag pattern. A zigzag is a line of alternating, sharp up-and-down turns that form peaks and valleys kind of resembling the letter Z. Zigzag can also be used as a verb meaning to move back and forth while traveling forward in a way that resembles this pattern. The word zag can be used to mean the same thing as zig. However, the two terms are typically used together, in which case they mean to move in opposite directions. This is usually used in a somewhat humorous way. Zig and zag are most commonly used in the context of physical movement, but they are sometimes used in situations in which people keep doing different things, such as when changing their minds back and forth. Example: I threw the ball where I said I was going to throw it, but you zigged when you should have zagged!

Etymology

Origin of zig

First recorded in 1785–95; extracted from zigzag

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zig zigged zigging

Even so, many funds that zig when the Agg zags still compare themselves to it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

This is the job bonds are supposed to do: zig when equities zag.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

Sometimes, you’re smart to zig when everybody else zags.

From Barron's ● May 5, 2026

The episode also demonstrates the series’ refreshing tendency to zig when you expect it to zag.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2024

Whenever he approached, I shouted, “Turn!” and though Samir wheezed with exhaustion, he managed to zig or zag at the last second.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Trailing 28-21 and facing a fourth-and-three on the Bishop Amat 27-yard line, Cloutier zigged and zagged across the field, eluding most of the Lancers’ defense along the way.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

Energy and resource stocks have zigged while the market has zagged.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Even better, so far this year energy and resource stocks have zigged while the market has zagged—producing their biggest gains just when bonds, and other stocks, have most taken a pounding.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

It’s as if Streisand’s had heard about the bonkers approach of those other dogs and zigged, sitting patiently as Streisand doled a morsel or two to each.

From New York Times ● Nov. 7, 2023

We ran until we couldn’t hear the whistles anymore, until we’d zigged and zagged our way to what seemed like an untraceable spot.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

Rivian is zigging while other car companies are zagging.

From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026

There was a simple reason why Lloyd decided to zag where everyone else in college hoops was zigging.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

Located in Silver Lake, Spesh strives to zag while everyone is zigging, said Jake Kroeger, one of the producers behind the alternative comedy troupe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2025

This is a huge blow to the idea that bitcoin is somehow something different, a supposedly uncorrelated asset that may help diversify your portfolio by sometimes zigging when everything else zags.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 21, 2025

Up the backstretch, Yummy was zigging and zagging his way through barns with his big paw out, booming his pitch—“Name’s Yummy, not Dummy”—and coming out empty-handed.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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