Fag — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈfag/

Meaning & Definition of Fag

Fag (verb)

  1. to work hard, toil
  2. to tire by strenuous activity, exhaust
  3. to serve as a fag especially in an English public school

Fag (noun)

  1. toil, drudgery
  2. drudge
  3. an English public-school boy who acts as servant to an older schoolmate
  4. cigarette
  5. a gay person—used as a term of abuse and disparagement

Fag (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to devote serious and sustained effort

    "the road crew fagged mightily to move the boulder out of the way"

    similar: bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work, sweat blood
    related: apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, attack, drive, essay, try, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch, trudge, wade
    near: break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out, bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind, dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about (British), mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

  2. to use up all the physical energy of

    "the long hike up the mountain had fagged us out"

    similar: break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, exhaust, fatigue, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary, wear to a frazzle
    related: debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken
    near: activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize, relax, rest, unwind

Related Entry: Fag end (noun)

Fag end is a different word from Fag. The synonyms below are for fag end, not for fag.

  1. an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value

    "a patchwork quilt sewn together from the fag ends of many bolts of cloth"

    similar: end, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, scrap, stub
    related: leavings, odds and ends, pickings, refuse, remains, residual, residue, scraping(s), stump, vestige, balance, rest, chip, flake, fragment, piece, sliver, splinter, ribbon(s), shred, tatter
    near: whole

Related Entry: Fag ends (noun)

Fag ends is a different word from Fag. The synonyms below are for fag ends, not for fag.

  1. an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value

    "a patchwork quilt sewn together from the fag ends of many bolts of cloth"

    similar: ends, leftovers, oddments, remainders, remnants, scraps, stubs
    related: leavings, odds and ends, pickings, refuses, remains, residuals, residues, scrapings, stumps, vestiges, balances, rests, chips, flakes, fragments, pieces, slivers, splinters, ribbons, shreds, tatters
    near: wholes

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fag

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fag:

bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work, break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, exhaust, fatigue, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out

Related Words for Fag

apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, attack, drive, essay, try, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch, trudge, wade, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken

Near Antonyms of Fag

break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out, bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind, dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble

Word Forms of Fag

Inflections: fagged, fagging, fags

Derived words: faggy (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Fag

perhaps from obsolete fag to droop, from fag fag end

First known use: 1772i

Words & Phrases Containing Fag

faggot, fagot, fag end

Frequently Asked Questions about Fag

What does "Fag" mean?

"Fag" means to work hard, toil. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to work hard, toil. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Fag"?

Other words for "Fag" include bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, grub, hump and hustle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fag" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fag"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fag". Common alternatives include bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, grub, hump, hustle, labor and moil.

How do you use "Fag" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fag" in a sentence: "the road crew fagged mightily to move the boulder out of the way"; "the long hike up the mountain had fagged us out".

Is "Fag" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Fag" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Fag"?

"Fag" is pronounced /ˈfag/.

What is the origin of the word "Fag"?

"Fag" comes from perhaps from obsolete fag to droop, from fag fag end. First known use: 1772i.

What is another word for "Fag" meaning "to devote serious and sustained effort"?

When "Fag" (verb) means to devote serious and sustained effort, synonyms include bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor and grub.