wag

American  

[wag] / wæg /

verb (used with object)

wagged, wagging

1. to move from side to side, forward and backward, or up and down, especially rapidly and repeatedly.

   a dog wagging its tail.

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

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

4. to move or nod (the head).

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verb (used without object)

wagged, wagging

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

2. to move constantly, especially in idle or indiscreet chatter.

   Her behavior caused local tongues to wag.

3. to get along; travel; proceed.

   Let the world wag how it will.

4. to totter or sway.

5. British Slang. to play truant; play hooky.

noun

1. the act of wagging.

   a friendly wag of the tail.

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

wag ¹ British  

/ wæɡ /

verb

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

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

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

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

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noun

1. the act or an instance of wagging

WAG ² British  

abbreviation

1. (West Africa) Gambia (international car registration)

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Wag ³ British  

/ wæɡ /

noun

1. informal the wife or girlfriend of a famous sportsman

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wag ⁴ British  

/ wæɡ /

noun

1. a humorous or jocular person; wit

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wag Idioms  

1. see tail wagging the dog; tongues wag.

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Other Word Forms

• unwagged adjective
• wagger noun
• waggery noun
• waggish adjective
• waggishly adverb
• waggishness noun

Etymology

Origin of wag

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

Example Sentences

But strict rules also make the financial tail wag the real economy dog.

From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026

The criticism usually ends there, with a finger wag and a head shake.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

“I tell clients, ‘Don’t let the tax tail wag the dog.’”

From MarketWatch • Nov. 26, 2025

More than one Washington wag said, “I thought he was against transitioning.”

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2025

Ray lets his tail wag at the idea, ears perk to the sound of his best friend’s voice.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers