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

jar

2 of 4

verb

jarred; jarring

intransitive verb

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
specifically : bicker
2
: to undergo severe vibration

transitive verb

: to cause to jar: such as
a
: to affect disagreeably : unsettle
The violent opposition jarred his resolve.
b
: to make unstable or loose : shake
jar the ball free

jar

3 of 4

noun (2)

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
2
a
: a state or manifestation of discord or conflict
b
: a harsh grating sound

jar

4 of 4

noun (3)

archaic
: the position of being ajar
usually used in the phrase on the jar

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Here, members of a West German Navy vessel hand over a jar of vaccine to the U.S. transport ship General Patch for 134 people sick with flu. Alexandra M. Lord, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025 Not to mention super easy—just crack open a jar of peanut butter and put a dollop between two crackers—and cheap (approximately $4 for a 4-sleeve box of crackers and $2 for a jar of the spread). Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
There’s a pragmatism to the way the tractor cuts through the pillowy substance so weighted by historical implication; the moment jars the senses and affirms the depth of African-American connection to this land. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2025 The shooting at Antioch High School jarred the community nearly two years after another school massacre sparked a debate for gun reform in Tennessee. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for jar 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French jarre, from Old Occitan jarra, from Arabic jarra earthen water vessel

Verb and Noun (2)

probably of imitative origin

Noun (3)

alteration of earlier char turn, from Middle English — more at chare

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1b

Noun (2)

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun (3)

1674, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jar was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near jar

Cite this Entry

“Jar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jar. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

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 noun
1
: a harsh sound
2
3
4
: a painful effect : shock

jar

3 of 3 noun
1
: 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"

More from Merriam-Webster on jar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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