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wag

(intransitive, mostly, obsolete) To go; to proceed; to move; to progress.

wæɡhistorical242 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(intransitive, mostly, obsolete) To go; to proceed; to move; to progress.

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Australia
#2·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(ambitransitive) To swing from side to side, as an animal's tail, or someone's head to express disagreement or disbelief.

Origin: From , probably from with reinforcement from ; both from . Related to . The verb may be regarded as an iterative or emphatic form of , which is often nearly synonymous; it was used, e.g., of a loose tooth. Parallel formations from the same root are the Old Norse vagga feminine, cradle (Swedish vagga, Danish vugge), Swedish to rock a cradle, to rock a cradle, Dutch to move, early modern German waggen (dialectal German wacken) to waver, totter. Compare waggle, verb. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"wag" means: To swing from side to side, as an animal's tail, or someone's head to express disagreement or disbelief.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"wag" means: To swing from side to side, as an animal's tail, or someone's head to express disagreement or disbelief.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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Australia
#3·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) To play truant from school.

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