Jack — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈjak/

Meaning & Definition of Jack

Jack (noun)

  1. a game played with a set of small objects that are tossed, caught, and moved in various figures
  2. a small 6-pointed metal object used in the game of jacks
  3. a playing card carrying the figure of a soldier or servant and ranking usually below the queen

Jack (verb)

  1. to move or lift (something) by or as if by a jack, jack up
  2. to raise the level or amount of (something), increase, jack up
  3. to increase in intensity, scope, etc., jack up

Jack (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment

    "I'd buy that watch, but I don't have the jack right now"

    similar: bread (slang), bucks, cabbage (slang), cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough, gold, green, kale (slang), legal tender, lolly (British), long green (slang), loot, lucre, money, moola (slang), needful, pelf, scratch (slang), shekels, tender, wampum
    related: coinage, specie, dead presidents (slang), folding money, paper money, scrip, banknote, cashier's check, check, draft, money order, note, promissory note, bill, dollar, greenback, bankroll, capital, finances, funds, roll (slang), wad, wallet, chump change, dibs (slang), dime, mite, peanuts, pittance, shoestring, big bucks, bomb (British), boodle, bundle, earth, fortune, king's ransom, megabucks, mint, packet (chiefly British), pile, pot, abundance, means, opulence, riches, treasure, wealth, resources, wherewithal, mad money, petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money

  2. a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling

    "a Portuguese ship flying the national jack"

    similar: banderole, banner, colors, ensign, flag, guidon, pendant (chiefly British), pennant, pennon, standard, streamer
    related: bunting, gonfalon, black flag, Jolly Roger, tricolor, union jack, white flag, burgee, semaphore, signaler, waft, badge, coat of arms, crest, insignia

  3. an adult male human being

    "hey, jack, can you spare some change?"

    similar: bastard, bloke (chiefly British), buck, cat, chap (chiefly British), chappie (British), dude, fella, fellow, galoot (slang), gent, gentleman, guy, hombre, joe, joker, lad, male, man
    related: master, mister, sir, buddy, buster

  4. one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel

    "the streets of the old seaport were once full of jacks, harlots, and other dockside denizens"

    similar: gob, hearty, jack-tar, mariner, navigator, sailor, salt, sea dog, seafarer, seaman, shipman, swab, swabbie (slang), tar
    related: coxswain, crewman, deckhand, shipmate, able-bodied seaman, able seaman, lubber, powerboater, sailboater, lime-juicer (slang), limey (slang)

  5. the total of the bets at stake at one time

    "tension was mounting as the jack was getting bigger by the minute"

    similar: jackpot, pool, pot
    related: fund, kitty, bet, stake, wager

  6. a person whose job is to cut down trees

    "we'll need to hire more jacks to get this forest cleared before winter"

    similar: logger, lumberjack, lumberman
    related: lumberer, sawyer, forester

Related Entry: Jack (up) (verb)

Jack (up) is a different word from Jack. The synonyms below are for jack (up), not for jack.

  1. to lift with effort

    "jack up the car so we can change that tire"

    similar: boost, heave, heft, hoist, upheave
    related: elevate, hike, pick up, raise, rear, up, uplift, upraise, uprear
    near: depress, drop, lower, sink, submerge, submerse

  2. to move from a lower to a higher place or position

    "local restaurants jacked up their prices for the summer tourist season"

    similar: boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, lift, perk (up), pick up, raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise
    related: ascend, mount, rise, rear, upend
    opposite: drop, lower
    near: descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip, bear, depress, press, push, sink, submerge

Related Entry: Jack-tar (noun)

Jack-tar is a different word from Jack. The synonyms below are for jack-tar, not for jack.

  1. one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel

    "a jack-tar swabbing the deck under the critical eye of the first mate"

    similar: gob, hearty, jack, mariner, navigator, sailor, salt, sea dog, seafarer, seaman, shipman, swab, swabbie (slang), tar
    related: coxswain, crewman, deckhand, shipmate, able-bodied seaman, able seaman, lubber, powerboater, sailboater, lime-juicer (slang), limey (slang)

Related Entry: Jack-of-all-trades (noun)

Jack-of-all-trades is a different word from Jack. The synonyms below are for jack-of-all-trades, not for jack.

  1. a person who has many skills; a person who can do many different jobs

    similar: all-rounder (British), Renaissance man, ace, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack, dab (chiefly British), dab hand (chiefly British), expert, fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot, maestro, master, maven, meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard, pro, professional, consultant, hired gun, specialist, addict, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan, craftsman, journeyman, mistress
    opposite: apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice, dabbler, dilettante, layman, nonprofessional, amateur, inexpert, nonexpert

Related Entry: Jack-tars (noun)

Jack-tars is a different word from Jack. The synonyms below are for jack-tars, not for jack.

  1. one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel

    "a jack-tar swabbing the deck under the critical eye of the first mate"

    similar: gobs, hearties, jacks, mariners, navigators, sailors, salts, sea dogs, seafarers, seamen, shipmen, swabbies (slang), swabs, tars
    related: coxswains, crewmen, deckhands, shipmates, able-bodied seamen, able seamen, lubbers, powerboaters, sailboaters, lime-juicers (slang), limeys (slang)

Related Entry: Union jack (noun)

Union jack is a different word from Jack. The synonyms below are for union jack, not for jack.

  1. as in white flag, black flag

    similar: black flag, Jolly Roger, tricolor, white flag, bunting, gonfalon, burgee, semaphore, signaler, waft, banderole, banner, colors, ensign, flag, guidon, jack, pendant (chiefly British), pennant, pennon, standard, streamer, badge, coat of arms, crest, insignia

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Jack

The most common words with a similar meaning to Jack:

Slang: bread, cabbage, kale, long green, moola, scratch, galoot, swabbie
Chiefly British: pendant, bloke, chap
British: lolly, chappie
bucks, cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough, gold, green, legal tender, loot, lucre, money, needful, pelf, shekels, tender, wampum, banderole, banner, colors, ensign, flag, guidon, pennant, pennon, standard, streamer, bastard, buck, cat, dude, fella, fellow, gent, gentleman, guy, hombre, joe, joker

Related Words for Jack

coinage, specie, dead presidents, folding money, paper money, scrip, banknote, cashier's check, check, draft, money order, note, promissory note, bill, dollar, greenback, bankroll, capital, finances, funds, roll, wad, wallet, chump change, dibs, dime, mite, peanuts, pittance, shoestring

Word Forms of Jack

Inflections: jacks, jacked, jacking

Derived words: jacker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Jack

Middle English Jacke, familiar term of address to a social inferior, nickname for Johan John

First known use: 1548

Words & Phrases Containing Jack

Jack-a-Lent, jack bean, jack cheese, jack crevalle, Jack Frost, jack in, jack-in-the-box, jack-in-the-pulpit

Frequently Asked Questions about Jack

What does "Jack" mean?

"Jack" means a game played with a set of small objects that are tossed, caught, and moved in various figures. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a game played with a set of small objects that are tossed, caught, and moved in various figures. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Jack"?

Other words for "Jack" include bread, bucks, cabbage, cash, change, chips, coin and currency. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Jack" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Jack"?

There are 168 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Jack". Common alternatives include bread, bucks, cabbage, cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough and gold.

What is a slang word for "Jack"?

Slang words for "Jack" include bread, cabbage, kale, long green, moola and scratch.

How do you use "Jack" in a sentence?

Examples of "Jack" in a sentence: "I'd buy that watch, but I don't have the jack right now"; "a Portuguese ship flying the national jack"; "hey, jack, can you spare some change?".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Jack"?

"Jack" is pronounced /ˈjak/.

What is the origin of the word "Jack"?

"Jack" comes from Middle English Jacke, familiar term of address to a social inferior, nickname for Johan John. First known use: 1548.