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
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
The porcelain jars were part of a German family collection for more than a century before going under the hammer today.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2024
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
The Sea Kings then got huge momentum boost when linebacker Breck Clemmer delivered a solid hit on Herr, jarring the ball loose.
—Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jar 
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Noun
Put the lid on the jar, and store it in the fridge until ready to eat.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
The porcelain jars were part of a German family collection for more than a century before going under the hammer today.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
It’s supposed to jar us, supposed to move us, supposed to rupture us — to open you up, to connect the dots to any kind of global issue.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
The Sea Kings then got huge momentum boost when linebacker Breck Clemmer delivered a solid hit on Herr, jarring the ball loose.
—Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 4 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 1 Dec. 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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