verb
jerk
JURK
verb
1
To move suddenly and sharply, often without control.
"The train jerked forward and threw everyone off balance."
"His leg jerked when the doctor tapped his knee."
2
To pull or tug something quickly and sharply.
"She jerked the fishing line the moment she felt a bite."
"He jerked the cord to start the lawnmower."
noun
1
An unpleasant or inconsiderate person.
"Only a jerk would cut in line like that."
"He felt like a jerk after snapping at his coworker."
2
A Jamaican style of seasoning and slow-cooking meat over spiced coals, or the meat prepared this way.
"The stall on the corner sells the best jerk chicken in town."
How to Use Jerk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short, sudden pull or movement — or, informally, a rude and inconsiderate person.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the cooking term (jerk chicken) with the movement/insult senses — they're unrelated meanings sharing one spelling.
Common pairings
jerk chicken
a knee-jerk reaction
jerk someone around
what a jerk
Word Forms
jerked past tense, jerked past tense, jerks singular, jerks singular
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Etymology
Probably from an old English word meaning "ready" or "quick", describing a sudden sharp motion; the Jamaican cooking sense is unrelated and comes from a different, disputed source.