Definitions
01a pattern or path
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a line or path that turns sharply from side to side.
n. a line or course that proceeds by sharp turns in alternating directions.
Español:zigzag
“The child drew a green zigzag across the bottom of the paper to look like grass.”
“The mountain trail was a series of steep zigzags that tested the hikers' endurance before they reached the summit.”
Antonyms
02to move side to side
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to move in a way that changes direction quickly and often.
v. to move or progress in a series of sharp turns or angles.
“The skier had to zigzag down the slope to avoid the trees.”
“The messenger zigzagged through the dense afternoon traffic, expertly weaving his motorcycle between stationary cars.”
Antonyms
03having sharp turns
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having the shape of a zigzag.
adj. formed or moving in a zigzag pattern.
Español:en zigzag
“The shirt had a colorful zigzag pattern on the sleeves.”
“The architect incorporated a zigzag roofline to mimic the jagged peaks of the nearby mountain range.”
04in a turning manner
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. moving in a pattern of sharp turns.
adv. in a zigzag manner or pattern.
“The rabbit ran zigzag across the field to escape the fox.”
“The small boat sailed zigzag against the wind, slowly making its way toward the harbor entrance.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“In the intermediate-temperature phase, some vanadium atoms move closer together to form zigzag chains.” “One wrote: “They need to introduce zigzag no parking zones either side of pedestrian crossings.” Etymology
Attested from 1712. Borrowed from French zigzag (attested from 1662), possibly from a Germanic source via Walloon ziczac (although German Zickzack is attested only from 1703). Also, possibly from the shape of the letter Z, which appears twice in the word. Sense “drunk” from the zigzag movements of a drunk person.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/zigzag
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0