# gig

/ˈɡɪɡ/ (US) · /ɡˈɪɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gig
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. musical performance

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a live performance by a musician or a group, usually in a club or bar.

For teachers: a live performance engagement for a musician or musical ensemble, typically in a commercial venue.

- The band is playing a small gig at the local pub this Saturday night.
- After months of rehearsing in a garage, the trio finally landed a recurring gig at a prestigious jazz club downtown.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'play', 'get', or 'do'.

### 2. temporary job

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a job that is temporary or freelance rather than a permanent position.

For teachers: a temporary, freelance, or on-demand work assignment, often associated with the 'gig economy'.

- He took a writing gig for a travel website to earn some extra money.
- The shift toward freelance platforms has made it easier for consultants to pick up a short-term gig without committing to a single employer.

Teaching tip: This sense is the origin of the term 'gig economy'.

### 3. gigabyte

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a short way to say gigabyte, which is a unit of computer memory.

For teachers: a colloquial clipping of gigabyte, representing one billion bytes of digital information.

- My new phone has 256 gigs of storage for photos and videos.
- The technician explained that the software update would require at least four gigs of free space on the primary drive.

### 4. fishing spear

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Dialect

a long pole with a sharp, pointed end used for catching fish or frogs.

For teachers: a multi-pronged spear or harpoon used for catching fish or small aquatic animals.

- The fisherman used a gig to catch frogs in the shallow water.
- Traditional gigging requires a steady hand and a sharp gig to strike the fish through the murky river water.

### 5. to perform

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to perform music or act in a show, especially as a job.

For teachers: to work as a performer, particularly by playing musical sets or theatrical roles.

- She has been gigging around the city for years to build her reputation.
- The drummer spent his youth gigging in various blues bars before joining a major touring production.

### 6. to spear fish

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Dialect

to catch fish or other small animals using a sharp spear.

For teachers: to strike or catch aquatic prey using a specialized spear or gig.

- They went out to the swamp at night to gig for bullfrogs.
- Local regulations often restrict the seasons during which residents are permitted to gig for specific species of freshwater fish.

## Examples

- The band has a gig at the local club tonight.
- After finishing her graphic design gig for the startup, she began looking for a more permanent role.
- The rise of digital platforms has transformed the labor market, allowing workers to move from one short-term gig to another without the traditional security of a long-term contract.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.