What does ajar mean?
"Ajar" describes something—most typically a door, window, or gate—that is slightly open, neither shut nor swung wide. It functions grammatically as an adverb but is frequently used as though it were an adjective, appearing in phrases such as "the door stood ajar" or "she left it ajar." The word carries a quietly evocative connotation in literature and everyday speech: an ajar door suggests hesitation, secrecy, an unexpected visitor, or an invitation to look inside, which is why novelists reach for it so often when building suspense. Its pronunciation, identical to the phrase "a jar," makes it a classic source of momentary confusion for listeners. Simple, precise, and atmospheric, "ajar" fills a small but useful gap in English vocabulary—the exact state between open and closed that no other common word captures quite so neatly.
adverbDescribing a door or other object as slightly open; neither fully closed nor fully open.
- (of a door or window) slightly open, neither closed nor wide open
"She left the door ajar so the cat could wander in and out."
"He pushed the gate ajar and peered into the darkened garden."
"The window had been left ajar all night, letting in the cold air."
Say "the door was ajar" aloud and you've accidentally said "a jar" — a quirk that has tripped up listeners for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ajar
"Ajar" originated in early modern England, first appearing in writing in the early seventeenth century. It combines the prefix "a-" (indicating a state or condition, as in "asleep" or "aglow") with "char," a word derived from the Old English "cierran," meaning to turn or twist. The underlying idea is thus literally "in a turned state" — a door turned just enough to leave a gap. The same Old English root gave rise to "char" and "chare" (odd jobs, turning work) and ultimately influenced "chore," making these distant cousins of "ajar."
How ajar is actually used
Almost exclusively used of doors, windows, gates, and lids; it carries a neutral-to-slightly-suspenseful connotation in fiction, where an ajar door often signals mystery or intrusion. Used both attributively and predicatively despite being classed as an adverb.
Easily confused with ajar
"A jar" is simply the noun phrase for a glass container, while "ajar" means slightly open — the identical sound often misleads readers into seeing a container where none is meant.