1
: a widemouthed container made typically of earthenware or glass
a pottery jar
a cookie jar
2
: as much as a jar will hold
ate an entire jar of pickles
jarred; jarring
1
a
: to have a harshly disagreeable or disconcerting effect
The noise jarred on her nerves.
a jarring experience
b
: to make a harsh or discordant sound
winced as the iron gate jarred against the sidewalk
c
: to be out of harmony
a course that jarred with his habitual feelings—
George Eliot
George Eliot
specifically
: bicker
2
: to undergo severe vibration
1
a
: a sudden or unexpected shake
jars and jolts
b
: an unsettling shock
gave her nerves a jar
c
: an unpleasant break or conflict in rhythm, flow, or transition
works persistently, swiftly, without jar—Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis2
a
: a state or manifestation of discord or conflict
b
: a harsh grating sound
archaic
: the position of being ajar
—usually used in the phrase on the jar
Synonyms
Examples of jar in a Sentence
Verb
The loss jarred his confidence in the team.
The earthquake jarred the tiles loose.
The tiles jarred loose in the earthquake.
Noun (2)
this padded case should protect your laptop from the jars normally experienced while traveling
the flow of her day was interrupted with the jar of an unexpected crisis
the jar of a stuck car door
Recent Examples on the Web
Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 7 Nov. 2024
Each prepares eaters for the ultimate sour flavor, which has yet to be introduced, the Final Boss Sour, described as a jar of expired pickles.
—Richard Collings, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
The company's Claussen pickles are known for their freshness, going from farm to jar in less than ten days.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jar 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The traditional way to keep track is to put beans in a jar.
—Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 7 Nov. 2024
Each prepares eaters for the ultimate sour flavor, which has yet to be introduced, the Final Boss Sour, described as a jar of expired pickles.
—Richard Collings, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
The pair jarred the ball loose, but umpires immediately ruled Yankees batter Gleyber Torres out and the front-row fans were kicked out.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
The company's Claussen pickles are known for their freshness, going from farm to jar in less than ten days.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jar
Dictionary Entries Near jar
Cite this Entry
“Jar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jar. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jar
1 of 3 verb
jarred; jarring
1
a
: to make a harsh or disagreeable sound
b
: to have a harsh or disagreeable effect
noise that jars the nerves
2
: to cause to vibrate : shake
3
: clash entry 1 sense 2b, conflict
jarring opinions
jar
2 of 3 nounjar
3 of 3 noun1
: a usually glass or pottery container having a wide mouth
2
: the quantity held by a jar
Etymology
Verb
probably an imitation of the sound made
Noun
from early French jarre "a container with a wide mouth," derived from Arabic jarrah "a pottery water container"
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