noun

rag

noun

A worn or torn piece of old cloth, especially one used for cleaning.

"He wiped the engine oil off his hands with an old rag."

"Her jeans were reduced to rags after the fall."

A newspaper, especially one seen as low quality or sensationalist (informal, disparaging).

"He called the tabloid a "cheap rag" not worth reading."

verb

To tease or mock someone, often good-naturedly (informal).

"His friends ragged on him for missing the easy shot."

How to Use Rag

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA scrap of old cloth — or, informally, a low-quality newspaper, or to gently mock someone.

When to use it

"Rag" for a newspaper and "rag on someone" are both informal/slang uses.

Common pairings

a piece of rag rag doll rag on someone the local rag

Word Forms

ragged past tense, ragged past tense, ragged past tense, ragged past tense, rags plural, rags plural, rags plural, rags plural, rags singular, rags singular, rags singular, rags singular

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He wiped the engine oil off his hands with an old _____.

Etymology

From Old English ragg, "a tuft" or "shagginess," related to Old Norse rǫgg — the same root that gives us "rug."

Rhymes for rag

drag frag brag Chirag

See all rhymes for rag →