jabverb
uk/dʒæb/us/dʒæb/-bb-[ I or T, usually + adv/prep ] to push or hit something forcefully and quickly, often with a thin or sharp object:
The doctor jabbed the needle into the dog's leg.
Watch out! You nearly jabbed me in the eye with your umbrella!
He was jabbing a finger at (= towards) them and shouting angrily.
[ I ] to make quick forceful hits with your fist (= closed hand) when boxing
[ T ] to kick a ball hard and quickly:
He jabbed the ball into the net in the final minute of the game.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Hitting and beating
- a bunch of fives idiom
- a rap on/over the knuckles idiom
- at-risk
- bang up sb/sth
- bashing
- conk
- deck
- hell
- kick
- knock
- knock sb's block off idiom
- lay
- lay sb out
- licking
- mess sb up
- pound
- pummel
- put the boot in idiom
- swing
- thump
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Fighting sports
jabnoun [ C ]
uk/dʒæb/us/dʒæb/a quick hard push or hit:
She gave me a sharp jab in the ribs with her elbow to stop me from saying any more.
The boxer was floored by a punishing left jab.
UK informal an injection :
a flu jab
You'll need some jabs if you're going to Egypt.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Fighting sports
- all-in wrestling
- arm-wrestling
- bantamweight
- black belt
- body blow
- flyweight
- foil
- gumshield
- heavyweight
- jiujitsu
- knockout
- left-hander
- pugilistic
- punch-drunk
- punching bag
- rope
- roundhouse kick
- sabre
- spar
- wrestler
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Pushing and shoving
Medicine in different forms