# veg

/vˈɛdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/veg
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to relax completely

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to spend time doing nothing or relaxing in a lazy way, usually after working hard.

For teachers: to engage in complete inactivity or passive relaxation, often as a recovery from mental or physical exertion.

- After a long week at the office, I just want to veg out in front of the TV.
- The students spent the entire weekend vegging in the common room, exhausted by the intensity of their final examinations.

Usage: Often used as the phrasal verb 'veg out'.

### 3. vegetarian

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · Dialect

used to describe food that does not contain meat.

For teachers: a clipping of 'vegetarian', typically used in informal contexts or on menus to indicate meat-free options.

- Is there a veg option for the main course at the wedding?
- The restaurant clearly labels its veg and non-veg dishes to accommodate different dietary requirements.

Teaching tip: This usage is particularly common in Indian English to distinguish between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

## Examples

- I just want to go home and veg in front of the TV.
- After finishing her final exams, she spent the entire weekend on the sofa just trying to veg.
- While some people find active hobbies restorative, others prefer to simply veg for a few hours to mentally decompress from the stresses of the work week.

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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.