# jar

/ˈdʒɑɹ/ (US) · /dʒˈɑː/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. glass container

noun · CEFR A2

a glass or clay container with a wide opening, used for storing food like jam or honey.

For teachers: a cylindrical container, typically made of glass or ceramic, with a wide mouth and no handle.

- She opened a new jar of strawberry jam for breakfast.
- The pantry was lined with glass jars containing various preserved fruits and pickled vegetables from the summer harvest.

### 2. a drink

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

a glass of beer, usually a pint.

For teachers: a pint of beer or cider; often used metonymically to refer to the act of drinking.

- Do you want to go to the pub for a jar after work?
- After a long week at the office, the team headed to the local tavern for a few jars and some casual conversation.

### 3. a physical shock

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, sharp shake or movement.

For teachers: a sudden impact or vibration caused by a collision or sharp movement.

- The car hit a deep hole in the road with a violent jar.
- The sudden jar of the train braking caused several passengers to lose their balance and grab the handrails.

### 4. to shake or jolt

verb · CEFR B2

to shake something or someone suddenly and hard.

For teachers: to strike or shake something with a sudden, sharp impact that causes a vibration.

- The earthquake jarred the dishes on the shelves.
- The heavy impact jarred his shoulder, leaving him with a dull ache that lasted for several days.

## Examples

- She opened a jar of strawberry jam for breakfast.
- The kitchen shelves were lined with glass jars containing various spices, dried beans, and homemade pickles.
- Archaeologists discovered several clay jars at the site, some of which still contained traces of olive oil and wine from the first century.

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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.