What does sagged mean?
Sagged is the simple past tense and past participle of sag, and it can also function as an adjective. Its literal sense is to sink, droop, or hang loosely under weight or another force: a rope may sag, a shelf may sag, and a person's shoulders may sag after a long day. In figurative use, sagged often describes a loss of strength, confidence, prices, or standards, as when a team's confidence sags or sales sag. The verb is widely used in British, American, and other English varieties, ranging from neutral description to mildly informal figurative language. It is especially useful because it links physical posture with the metaphor of flagging energy or resolve, while remaining concrete enough to create a clear image.
To sink, droop, or hang loosely under weight or pressure; figuratively, to weaken, decline, or lose confidence.
"Her spirits sagged when she learned that the performance had been cancelled."
Usually intransitive and common in both literal and figurative contexts.
Having sagged; hanging loosely, bent downward, or weakened.
"The storm left the tent with a sagged, waterlogged roof."
Less common than the verb form and somewhat more literary.
The word’s central image is hard to miss: something gives way and hangs lower under strain.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sagged
Sagged is the past tense and past participle of sag, with the same form also used adjectivally. English sag emerged in the early 19th century from an earlier noun meaning a bag or hanging fold, reflecting the way a loaded bag droops under its contents. The older noun is generally related to sack, from Old English sacc, while sac and satchel belong to the same broader family of bag words. The verb was later extended from physical drooping to bodily posture, structural decline, and abstract losses of strength or confidence.
Related word forms
How sagged is actually used
Sagged is neutral in register, although figurative uses often sound informal or literary. The verb is usually intransitive, while the adjectival use is less common and more literary.