sag

¹

[ sag ]

verb (used without object)

, sagged, sag·ging.

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. Compare hog ( def 14 ).
   2. to be driven to leeward; to make too much leeway.

verb (used with object)

, sagged, sag·ging.

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 ( def 3 ).

SAG

²

[ sag ]

noun

1. Screen Actors Guild.

sag

/ 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

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 Words From

• anti·sag adjective
• un·sagging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sag¹

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of sag¹

C15: from Scandinavian; compare Swedish sacka, Dutch zakken, Norwegian dialect sakka to subside, Danish sakke to lag behind

Example Sentences

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, economic confidence sagged under Obama and Biden, even as they presided over stunning recoveries.

From Salon

Globally, for the third quarter, Tesla sales rose 6.4% as the new Cybertruck made up for sagging sales of the Model 3 and Model Y.

From Los Angeles Times

Even into the 1950s, kids living in snowbound American climes might find an orange — one solitary, precious orange — sagging in the toe of their Christmas stocking.

From Los Angeles Times

And the more Sue disrespects the week on/week off balance, the more Elisabeth will suffer varicose veins, thinning, graying hair, sagging breasts, and other indignities of aging.

From Salon

Its rice was a finicky crop that sprouts slow, skinny and tall, with fewer grains per bunch, and heads that can sag below the reach of the thresher and end up in the mud.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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