bag 1 of 2

noun

ˈbag How to pronounce bag (audio)
Definition of bagnext
1
as in pouch
a container made of a flexible material (as paper or plastic) she carries her towel and other supplies to the beach in a bright, colorful bag slung over her arm

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2
as in purse
a container for carrying money and small personal items she keeps her keys, phone, and wallet each in separate compartments in her bag so that she always knows where they are

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bag

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point the shirt bagged at the waist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly bagged a deer while hunting last weekend

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3
as in to leave
to give up (a job or office) if the supervisor says one more nasty thing to me, I'm going to bag this stupid job

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4
as in to win
to obtain (as a goal) through effort bagged a full fellowship at one of the nation's leading universities

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5
as in to earn
to receive as return for effort bagged an acting nomination for a truly inspired performance

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bag contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bag are capture, catch, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

Where would capture be a reasonable alternative to bag?

The words capture and bag can be used in similar contexts, but capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

When is it sensible to use catch instead of bag?

While in some cases nearly identical to bag, catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

How do entrap and ensnare relate to one another, in the sense of bag?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

How is trap related to other words for bag?

Trap, snare, entrap, and ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. Trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals
snared butterflies with a net

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bag
Noun
Made of water-repellent nylon, the bag features a top handle and removable crossbody strap, tons of pouches and compartments for organization, and a padded laptop pocket. — Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026 Founded in the 1870's by German-Jewish immigrant Jacob Elsas, the mill produced feed sacks, cotton bags and later textiles. — Brian Unger, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
Gerardo Lopez, a food safety professor at the University of Arizona, still rinses bagged greens before serving them. — Angela Haupt, Time, 22 July 2026 Not for the first time, Messi carried Inter Miami on his shoulders to help his club make an appearance in the shortlist — single-handedly bagging all eight of the goals represented by the MLS side. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bag
  1. pouch
  2. purse
  3. protrude
  4. grab
  5. leave
  6. win
  7. earn
  8. sack
Noun
  • Then Green, his wife and Beloozerov spent the next several days planning their trip and eating meals Beloozerov paid for in cash pulled from a pouch around his neck stocked with $100, $50 and $2 bills.
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Pendleton’s travel-ready design leans into that ritual with a roll-up board printed in one of the heritage brand’s iconic patterns, reversible wooden pieces, and a vegan leather pouch for toting it around.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of pouch
Noun
  • When collapsed, the lightweight bottle is compact enough to fit into any small purse or coat pocket.
    — Lara Kramer, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Second, purses have to be way down, with just a $250-$300 million investment.
    — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of purse
Verb
  • The visual form demands a stark contrast between the protruding belly and the slimness of the rest of a woman’s body.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Tap the Cleaning Path Preferences tab to choose between Full Coverage Mode, which provides the most thorough cleaning coverage for square and rectangular pools, and Edge Guard Mode, designed for pools with protruding edges (coping).
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrude
Verb
  • Profanity also grabs attention since the shock value of an F-bomb can lead to more media coverage and clips circulating on social media.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Alice slowly gets Marshall to lie on the floor, grabs the bottle of whiskey, and pours it into his mouth with glee.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • WireImage Three days after Jeongyeon became the first TWICE member to leave JYP Entertainment in the group’s eleven-year history, Chaeyoung has announced her own departure.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities are searching for the driver of a van who struck a man in a wheelchair in Dania Beach and fled the scene, leaving the victim injured and his wheelchair damaged.
    — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of leave
Verb
  • In the last few years, Penn State’s singular focus – to win a national championship – clouded everything else.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The club was rebuilding after the 1958 Munich air disaster but won a first post-Munich trophy, the FA Cup, earlier that year.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of win
Verb
  • Buffalo’s synthetic turf earned an F grade from Bills players in the NFLPA’s annual report card last year.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Backstage, Tommaso Ciampa says this year’s Casino Gauntlet has the biggest stakes since the winner earns a chance at the AEW World Championship.
    — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of earn
Noun
  • The once-strong Lions protection became a liability in 2025, ranking 31st in pass block win rate as Goff took a career-high 38 sacks.
    — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Swinson worked with the third-team defense, and Ponder hasn't tallied a would-be sack in team drills in a week and a half.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of sack

Phrases Containing bag

Browse Nearby Words

baffling
bag
bagatelle
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Cite this Entry

“Bag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bag. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bag

Nglish: Translation of bag for Spanish Speakers

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