What does jog mean?
To jog is to move quickly but at a controlled and steady pace, most often by running. The word is particularly common in reference to exercise: people jog for fitness, to train, or simply to enjoy being outdoors. It can also describe a short trip made at a brisk pace, such as “a jog around the park,” and can mean to move something with a light push or shake, as in jogging someone’s memory. As a noun, a jog is an act of running at a slow, steady speed, and the expression “give something a jog” means to give it a brief shake or nudge. Jogging is generally gentler than sprinting and more purposeful than wandering. In everyday English, it is a practical, approachable word that carries mild associations of health, routine, energy, and unhurried movement.
To run at a slow, steady pace, especially as exercise or recreation.
"They jog along the beach every Saturday."
Also used more broadly for moving at a brisk or leisurely pace, and occasionally for giving something a light push or shake.
A period of running at a slow, steady pace, especially as exercise.
"She took a jog before work."
The plural “jogs” is used for separate acts or periods of jogging.
Used for separate acts or periods of jogging.
"His morning jogs usually last about thirty minutes."
The word jog comes from a long-standing tradition of moving at a leisurely pace, but modern use is especially associated with the steady rhythm of running exercise.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jog come from?
The verb “jog” is recorded in English by the early 17th century, initially with meanings involving a sudden or jolting movement. Its earlier history is uncertain, and the word may have developed from an obsolete form related to the Middle English “joggen” or “jogge.” The modern sense of running at a slow, steady pace became established during the 18th century, and the form is also found in several European languages with related uses.
Related word forms
How jog is actually used
In modern English, “jog” most often refers to running as exercise or recreation. It is also used informally for a short, brisk walk, as in “let’s jog over to the shop.”