First Known Use: 1575
Dictionary
1jerk
noun \ˈjərk\
: a stupid person or a person who is not well-liked or who treats other people badly
: a quick pull or twist
: a sudden sharp movement
Full Definition of JERK
1
: a single quick motion of short duration
2
a : jolting, bouncing, or thrusting motions b : a tendency to produce spasmodic motions
3
a : an involuntary spasmodic muscular movement due to reflex action b plural : involuntary twitchings due to nervous excitement
4
a : an annoyingly stupid or foolish person b : an unlikable person; especially : one who is cruel, rude, or small-minded
5
: the pushing of a weight from shoulder height to a position overhead in weight lifting
See jerk defined for English-language learners
See jerk defined for kids
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Examples of JERK
- That jerk can't do anything right.
- Most of the kids are nice, but some are jerks.
- The dead branch came loose after a few jerks.
- He felt the jerk of the line as a fish took the bait.
- The car started with a jerk.
Origin of JERK
probably alteration of yerk
Related to JERK
- Synonyms
- bastard, beast, bleeder [British], blighter [chiefly British], boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud [slang], crumb [slang], cur, dirtbag [slang], dog, fink, heel, hound, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, schmuck [slang], scum, scumbag [slang], scuzzball [slang], skunk, sleaze, sleazebag [slang], sleazeball [slang], slime, slimeball [slang], slob, snake, so-and-so, sod [chiefly British], stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin, son of a gun
- Antonyms
- push
2jerk
verb
Definition of JERK
transitive verb
1
: to give a quick suddenly arrested push, pull, or twist to
2
: to propel or move with or as if with a quick suddenly arrested motion
3
: to mix and serve (as sodas) behind a soda fountain
intransitive verb
1
: to make a sudden spasmodic motion
2
: to move in short abrupt motions or with frequent jolts
— jerk·er noun
First Known Use of JERK
1589
3jerk
verb
Definition of JERK
transitive verb
: to preserve (meat) in long sun-dried slices
Origin of JERK
back-formation from 1jerky
First Known Use: 1707
JERK Defined for Kids
1jerk
verb \ˈjərk\
jerkedjerk·ing
Definition of JERK for Kids
1
: to give a quick sharp pull or twist to <She jerked the dog's leash.>
2
: to move in a quick motion <He jerked his head.>
2jerk
noun
Definition of JERK for Kids
1
: a short quick pull or jolt <… he gave the rope a vicious jerk. — C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe>
2
: a foolish person
Medical Dictionary
jerk
noun \ˈjərk\
Medical Definition of JERK
: an involuntary spasmodic muscular movement due to reflex action; especially : one induced by an external stimulus—see knee jerk
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