bagged
bagged — noun
1. An object made of paper, plastic, cloth, or similar material that is open at the
An object made of paper, plastic, cloth, or similar material that is open at the top and can be closed, used for carrying or storing things like food, shopping, or personal items.
Wei put her groceries into a brown paper bag before walking home.
paper bag
The shop assistant placed the bread in a plastic bag and handed it to Fatima.
plastic bag
Yuki packed a bag of rice and a bag of beans for the camping trip.
bag of rice
Hiroshi carried a cloth bag full of books back from the library.
Amelia tied the top of the garbage bag and took it outside to the bin.
garbage bag
- paper bag
- plastic bag
- cloth bag
- grocery bag
- shopping bag
- garbage bag
- tea bag
- bag of rice
- sack
larger and stronger, often made of thick paper, jute, or canvas; used for heavy items like potatoes or coal
- pouch
smaller bag with a drawstring, used for holding money, tobacco, or small items
- carrier bag
British term for a plastic or paper bag with handles for carrying shopping
Grammar Patterns
bag of [something]
paper/plastic/cloth bag
Usage Note
Frequently used in compounds like 'shopping bag', 'grocery bag', 'trash bag', 'tea bag', and 'sleeping bag'. The material (paper, plastic, cloth) is often named before 'bag'.
Common Mistakes
2. A small container made of leather, fabric, or similar material, used especially
A small container made of leather, fabric, or similar material, used especially by women to carry money, keys, a phone, and other small personal items.
Chidi pulled his wallet out of his leather bag and paid for lunch.
leather bag
Olivia opened her bag and searched for her keys, but they were not inside.
Mateo bought his mother a new handbag for her birthday.
handbag
The woman left her bag on the chair by mistake and ran back to get it.
- leather bag
- designer bag
- handbag
- shoulder bag
- open her bag
- bag strap
- purse
American term; also means a small coin wallet in British English
- shoulder bag
a bag with a long strap worn over the shoulder
- clutch
a small handbag without handles, carried in the hand
Grammar Patterns
[possessive] bag
leather/fabric bag
Usage Note
In American English, 'purse' is more common for this sense. In British English, 'handbag' is typical and 'purse' refers to a small wallet for coins.
Common Mistakes
3. A container with a handle or wheels, used for carrying clothes and other items n
A container with a handle or wheels, used for carrying clothes and other items needed for a trip away from home.
Fatima packed her bags the night before her flight to Tokyo.
packed her bags
Owen carried two heavy bags onto the train and put them on the rack above his seat.
heavy bags
The airline lost Mia's bag, so she had to wear the same clothes for two days.
The volunteer helped the tourists lift their bags into the back of the bus.
their bags
- pack bags
- heavy bag
- travel bag
- carry-on bag
- check-in bag
- train bag
Grammar Patterns
pack [possessive] bags
travel bag
Usage Note
Often used in the plural form 'bags' to mean 'luggage' in general. In British English, 'bags' commonly refers to suitcases; in American English, 'bags' and 'luggage' are both used.
Common Mistakes
4. The quantity of something that fills a bag, or the amount a particular bag can h
The quantity of something that fills a bag, or the amount a particular bag can hold.
Wei bought a bag of rice that weighed ten kilograms.
a bag of rice
The recipe calls for one bag of frozen peas.
Zara picked up a bag of cement from the hardware store.
a bag of cement
Each bag of oranges costs about the same at this market.
- a bag of
- bag of rice
- bag of cement
- bag of potatoes
- bagful
identical meaning; less common in everyday speech
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'of' followed by the substance or item in the bag. This sense emphasises the portion, not the container itself.
Common Mistakes
5. An object that has a shape or function similar to a bag, such as a small sealed
An object that has a shape or function similar to a bag, such as a small sealed packet containing a substance, or a bag-shaped container used for a specific purpose.
Yuki dipped a tea bag into her cup and waited for the water to turn brown.
tea bag
The chef squeezed the piping bag to create cream flowers on the top of the cake.
piping bag
The man carried a bag of coins to the bank to deposit them in his account.
bag of coins
A bag of cement fell off the truck and split open on the road.
bag of cement
- tea bag
- piping bag
- bag of coins
- bag of cement
- money bag
Grammar Patterns
[noun] bag
bag of [something]
Usage Note
This sense covers items whose name contains 'bag' but which are not primarily containers for carrying — for example 'tea bag' (a small sealed packet), 'piping bag' (a kitchen tool), or 'money bag' (a bag-shaped pouch for coins).
Common Mistakes
6. A bag used by hunters to carry the birds or small animals they have shot and kil
A bag used by hunters to carry the birds or small animals they have shot and killed during a hunt.
The hunter dropped three rabbits into his canvas game bag.
game bag
After a long morning in the forest, Wei's bag held two ducks.
The guide checked the hunting bag and counted the pheasants inside.
hunting bag
- game bag
- hunting bag
- canvas bag
- game bag
the standard term for a hunter's bag for carrying killed game
Grammar Patterns
game bag
hunting bag
Usage Note
This sense is specific to hunting contexts. In general usage, 'bag' for the quantity of animals caught is more common (see noun sense 7).
7. The total number of birds, animals, or fish that a hunter captures or kills in a
The total number of birds, animals, or fish that a hunter captures or kills in a single trip or over a given period.
The hunters returned with a bag of six pheasants and a rabbit.
a bag of six pheasants
After a full day in the forest, Vikram's bag was larger than anyone else's.
The game warden checked each hunter's bag before they left the reserve.
checked each hunter's bag
A good bag on the first day of the season is a sign of skill.
- a bag of pheasants
- bag limit
- day's bag
- hunter's bag
Usage Note
Used primarily in hunting and fishing contexts. 'Bag' in this sense refers to the total take, not the physical container the game is carried in.
8. An area of fabric that has become loose, stretched, or puffed out, so that it no
An area of fabric that has become loose, stretched, or puffed out, so that it no longer lies flat against the surface it covers.
The tailor smoothed the bag in the trousers where the fabric had gathered at the knee.
bag in the trousers
Arjun noticed a bag at the elbow of his jacket where the wool had stretched from years of wear.
bag at the elbow
The dress had a bag at the back that the seamstress needed to fix before the wedding.
Amelia ironed the skirt to remove the bags that had formed after sitting for several hours.
remove the bags
- bag in the trousers
- bag at the elbow
- bag in the fabric
- bag in the dress
- remove the bag
- bulge
a rounded swelling in fabric, often from something pushing from behind rather than from loose stretching
Grammar Patterns
a bag in [clothing item]
bag at the [body part]
Usage Note
Common in tailoring and clothing care contexts. A 'bag' in fabric is considered a defect — the material has stretched or shifted from its proper shape. The verb 'to bag' (verb sense 2) describes how fabric develops this loose shape.
9. In baseball, one of the four bases that a runner must touch in order to score, w
In baseball, one of the four bases that a runner must touch in order to score, which is traditionally made of a white canvas bag filled with a soft material.
Jamal slid into second bag just before the catcher threw the ball.
slid into second bag
The umpire stood near first bag and watched the play closely.
Olivia stepped on third bag and then ran home to score the winning run.
stepped on third bag
During practice, the coach put new white bags on all four bases.
- first bag
- second bag
- third bag
- steal a bag
- tag the bag
- base
the standard term for the four positions a runner must reach; 'bag' is more informal and typically used for first, second, or third base
Usage Note
This sense only applies in baseball. Outside of that context, 'bag' refers to a different type of container.
10. A varied set or assortment of things, especially ideas, feelings, or other intan
A varied set or assortment of things, especially ideas, feelings, or other intangible items that are grouped together.
The novel presents a rich bag of characters from different social classes.
a rich bag of characters
His speech contained a whole bag of excuses for missing the deadline.
The festival offered a mixed bag of plays, concerts, and art shows.
a mixed bag of
Gabriela's presentation was a bag of clever ideas mixed with weak facts.
- a mixed bag
- a bag of tricks
- rich bag of
- whole bag of
- assortment
more formal; lacks the slightly informal tone of 'bag'
- collection
neutral and general; 'bag' suggests a more casual or mixed grouping
- mixture
emphasises variety rather than grouping
Usage Note
Common in the fixed expression 'a mixed bag' to describe something with both good and bad parts. The 'bag' here is metaphorical, not physical.
11. An area of loose, hanging, or puffy skin anywhere on the body, often caused by a
An area of loose, hanging, or puffy skin anywhere on the body, often caused by aging, tiredness, weight loss, or a lack of firmness in the tissue underneath.
After staying up all night, Jamal noticed puffy bags under his eyes in the mirror.
bags under his eyes
The old dog had loose bags of skin hanging below its neck that swayed when it walked.
loose bags of skin
After losing thirty kilograms, Kwame had extra bags of skin on his upper arms that required surgery to remove.
Putting cold spoons on the eyes can make under-eye bags less swollen.
under-eye bags
The cream claimed to reduce bags of sagging skin around the stomach, but the results were not impressive.
bags of sagging skin
- bags under the eyes
- under-eye bags
- bags of skin
- loose bags of skin
- dark bags
- puffiness
neutral descriptor; focuses on swelling rather than drooping
- loose skin
a more neutral medical term for skin that has lost elasticity
- flab
informal, refers to soft, loose body fat rather than skin
- firm skin
skin that is tight and elastic, not hanging loosely
Usage Note
When referring to the area under the eyes, almost always used in the plural ('bags') with 'under'. When referring to loose skin elsewhere on the body, often used with a descriptive phrase like 'bags of skin'. This describes an unwanted cosmetic or health condition, not a normal body part (see noun sense 14).
Common Mistakes
12. An extremely rude and insulting word for a woman, implying that she is old, unat
An extremely rude and insulting word for a woman, implying that she is old, unattractive, or unpleasant.
The chef called the customer a silly old bag after she complained about the soup.
a silly old bag
Folami's grandmother refused to let anyone call her an old bag.
Using the word 'bag' to describe a woman is deeply disrespectful and should be avoided.
The actor was criticised for referring to the director as a bag in the interview.
referring to the director as a bag
- old bag
- silly bag
- stupid bag
Usage Note
This is a strong insult. Learners should be aware of the meaning but avoid using this word, as it is offensive and may cause serious offence. Frequently used with adjectives like 'old' or 'silly'.
Common Mistakes
13. A particular activity, interest, or skill that someone does regularly or is know
A particular activity, interest, or skill that someone does regularly or is known for being good at.
Cooking Italian food is Lucia's bag — she makes fresh pasta every weekend.
is Lucia's bag
Owen asked if rock climbing was Sakura's bag after seeing her gear.
Mathematics has never been Yusuf's bag; he prefers writing and history.
never been Yusuf's bag
The night-shift nurse said that staying calm under pressure is her bag.
- not my bag
- not her bag
- is his bag
- be someone's bag
Usage Note
Almost always used with a possessive ('my bag', 'her bag', 'not his bag') and often in the negative: 'not my bag' means 'not something I enjoy or am good at'.
14. A normal pouch-like structure in the body of an animal, such as a cheek pouch in
A normal pouch-like structure in the body of an animal, such as a cheek pouch in rodents, the udder of a cow, or the pouch where a kangaroo carries its young.
The hamster's cheek pouches were stuffed with sunflower seeds.
cheek pouches
The farmer milked the cow by gently pulling on each section of the udder.
section of the udder
The goat's udder was full of milk after the kids had finished feeding.
Kangaroos carry their young in a pouch on the mother's belly.
a pouch on the mother's belly
The biology textbook labelled the abdominal pouches in the diagram of the rat.
abdominal pouches
- cheek pouch
- cow's bag
- goat's bag
- marsupial pouch
- abdominal pouch
Usage Note
Refers to normal anatomical structures, not sagging or puffy skin (see noun sense 11 for that). 'Pouch' is the more common technical term in biology; 'bag' is the less formal word.
15. a medical procedure in which a healthcare worker squeezes a flexible bag connect
a medical procedure in which a healthcare worker squeezes a flexible bag connected to a face mask or breathing tube, forcing air into the lungs of a patient whose breathing is too weak or has stopped
The night-shift nurse started bagging the patient when his oxygen level dropped to eighty percent.
started bagging the patient
Every new resident at the teaching hospital must practise how to bag a newborn during their neonatal rotation.
bag a newborn — paediatric resuscitation context
Sanjay watched the paramedics bag the injured cyclist while the ambulance raced toward the trauma centre.
Isabella called for back-up while bagging the elderly woman whose oxygen level kept dropping.
Bagging a patient needs two hands and a steady rhythm so the lungs fill properly.
Bagging a patient
- bag a patient
- bag a newborn
- start bagging
- continue bagging
- need bagging
- bagging + oxygen saturation
- bag + face mask
- manual ventilation
the broader clinical term for any hand-powered method of pushing air into the lungs
- bag-mask ventilation
a more precise term that names the equipment used during the procedure
- resuscitation bagging
emphasises the life-saving purpose, often used in CPR contexts
Usage Note
Frequently used in the gerund form (bagging) as a noun referring to the procedure itself. Common in emergency medicine, intensive care, and anaesthesiology contexts.
bagged — verb
1. to place items inside a container made of paper, plastic, or cloth, usually for
to place items inside a container made of paper, plastic, or cloth, usually for carrying or storing them.
Keiko bagged the vegetables at the market before paying the cashier.
The shop assistant bagged the books and handed them to Chandra.
Please bag the leftover food before putting it in the fridge.
Ines bagged her dirty laundry before the trip to the laundromat.
The volunteers bagged donated clothes for families in need.
bagged donated clothes for
- bag the groceries
- bag up [items]
- bag for [purpose]
- unpack
to take items out of a bag or container
Grammar Patterns
bag + object
Usage Note
This is the most literal and common sense of 'bag' as a verb. Commonly used in shopping, packing, and food preparation contexts.
Common Mistakes
2. to push outward in a rounded shape or droop downward loosely, as when soft fabri
to push outward in a rounded shape or droop downward loosely, as when soft fabric or a flexible surface loses its flatness because of stretching, weight, or pressure from inside.
The knees of Omar's old trousers bag badly after he wears them for a few hours.
trousers bag badly
Wind made the curtain bag outward against the window screen.
bag outward
Nadia's jumper bagged around the elbows after years of wear.
bagged around the elbows
Rainwater collected and bagged the canvas roof of the old tent.
bagged the canvas roof
His thin shirt bagged loosely across the shoulders.
bagged loosely across
The weight of the tools bagged the pockets of the carpenter's canvas apron.
bagged the pockets of
His heavy drumsticks had bagged the fabric at the knees of Mateo's jeans.
- bag at the knees
- bag around the elbows
- bag outward
- bag loosely
- bag from [weight/pressure]
- bagged by the wind
Grammar Patterns
bag (outward/downward)
bag + object
Usage Note
Often describes clothing or fabric that has stretched or lost its shape, especially around the knees or elbows. This sense can be used both intransitively (the fabric bags) and transitively (something bags the fabric). When transitive, the subject is typically a natural force (wind, water, moisture) or a condition (wear, pressure), and the object is fabric, cloth, or a flexible surface.
Common Mistakes
3. to manage to get something desirable, often by acting quickly before anyone else
to manage to get something desirable, often by acting quickly before anyone else can take it.
Sakura bagged the best seat in the lecture hall by arriving twenty minutes early.
bagged the best seat in the lecture hall by arriving
Daisuke bagged two tickets to the concert before they sold out online.
Ingrid bagged a promotion after only six months with the company.
Our team bagged three gold medals at the regional swimming competition.
bagged three gold medals
The young journalist bagged an interview with the prime minister.
- bag a seat
- bag a ticket
- bag a prize
- bag a deal
- miss
to fail to get something
Grammar Patterns
bag + object
bag + object + for + person
Usage Note
Common in British and Australian informal speech about getting something scarce or desirable — tickets, jobs, seats, awards. 'Bag' here suggests speed and initiative.
4. to catch or kill a wild animal or bird while out hunting in the countryside.
to catch or kill a wild animal or bird while out hunting in the countryside.
The hunters bagged three pheasants during their morning walk through the woods.
Kwame bagged his first deer on the last day of the season.
bagged his first deer
They had bagged enough rabbits to feed the whole family for a week.
No ducks were bagged that afternoon because the birds flew too high.
were bagged
- bag a deer
- bag pheasants
- bag [number] of [animal]
Grammar Patterns
bag + animal
Usage Note
Refers specifically to the successful result of hunting. The object is always a wild animal or bird, and the tone can suggest sport or traditional subsistence.
5. to win or get something valuable, such as a prize, a contract, or an award, by d
to win or get something valuable, such as a prize, a contract, or an award, by doing better than other people in a competition or contest
The young chef bagged first prize at the regional cooking competition.
bagged first prize
Our design team bagged the contract to build the new city library.
bagged the contract
Raj bagged three gold medals at the national swimming championships last year.
After months of talks, the company finally bagged the deal with the Japanese partner.
bagged the deal
Sakura bagged the top prize in the science fair for her project on wind energy.
- bag a prize
- bag a contract
- bag a deal
- bag a medal
- lose
fails to win or obtain what was sought
Grammar Patterns
bag + prize/award/contract/deal
Usage Note
Informal in tone. Often used in spoken English or journalism rather than formal writing.
Common Mistakes
6. to tell someone they can no longer work for you or your company, usually because
to tell someone they can no longer work for you or your company, usually because their work is not good enough or they have done something wrong
The manager bagged three staff members after they missed too many days of work.
bagged three staff members
Ricardo was bagged from his job at the factory for arriving late every morning.
was bagged from his job
The newspaper bagged the editor after the story turned out to be false.
Haruto got bagged from the restaurant for taking money from the cash register.
Gabriel bagged two workers during the winter because sales had dropped sharply.
- bag an employee
- bag a worker
- get bagged from
Grammar Patterns
bag + employee/person
be bagged from + job/position
Usage Note
British informal usage. In American English, 'fire' or 'sack' is more common. Frequently used in the passive or with 'got'.
Common Mistakes
7. to take hold of someone or something by force, especially when they are trying t
to take hold of someone or something by force, especially when they are trying to escape or are trying not to be caught.
The police bagged the thief as he tried to climb over the garden wall.
Moussa bagged the runaway dog before it reached the main road.
The soldiers bagged three enemy spies during the night operation.
The fisherman bagged the last carp from the pond with a single quick scoop of the net.
bagged the last carp from the pond with
- bag a thief
- bag a suspect
- bag [animal]
- release
to set free
Grammar Patterns
bag + person/animal
Usage Note
Close in meaning to sense 4 (hunt) and sense 3 (secure quickly), but with a stronger implication of physical force or official authority. Often used for criminals or escaped animals.
8. to shoot at and bring down an aircraft, or to fire upon a target until it is des
to shoot at and bring down an aircraft, or to fire upon a target until it is destroyed or no longer a threat.
The pilot bagged two enemy planes during the battle over the coast.
Anti-aircraft gunners bagged three drones approaching the base.
bagged three drones
Babatunde's squadron bagged five hostile helicopters in a single mission.
The fighter jet was bagged by a missile fired from the ground.
was bagged by a missile
- bag a plane
- bag an enemy aircraft
- bag drones
- shoot down
the standard modern term; 'bag' is more dated slang
- destroy
broader; can apply to any kind of destruction
Grammar Patterns
bag + aircraft
Usage Note
An old-fashioned military slang term, most commonly found in historical accounts of aerial combat from the World Wars. Rare in modern news reporting.
9. to decide to stop using a particular plan, idea, or method and choose something
to decide to stop using a particular plan, idea, or method and choose something else that seems more likely to succeed
The city bagged the original plan for a highway and chose a railway instead.
bagged the original plan
After the accident, the researchers bagged their first method and tried a safer approach.
Chidi bagged his idea of studying law and decided to become a nurse instead.
The school bagged the old timetable and introduced a new one with longer breaks.
bagged the old timetable
Noah bagged the expensive proposal and went with a cheaper option that worked well.
- bag a plan
- bag an idea
- bag a method
- bag a proposal
- keep
continue using or following the original plan
Grammar Patterns
bag + plan/idea/approach/method
Usage Note
Object is typically a plan, proposal, method, or approach — not a physical object or person.
Common Mistakes
10. to force air into the lungs of a person who is not breathing well by using a spe
to force air into the lungs of a person who is not breathing well by using a special hand-held device with a bag that a medical worker squeezes
The paramedic bagged the injured cyclist until the ambulance reached the hospital.
bagged the injured cyclist
The nurse bagged the child for several minutes before her breathing returned to normal.
In the emergency room, a doctor bagged the patient as the team prepared the breathing machine.
The trainee learned how to bag a patient correctly during the first aid training course.
The medical team bagged the woman until her oxygen levels rose to a safe point.
bagged the woman
- bag a patient
- bag someone
- ventilate
the standard medical term; broader range of methods
- resuscitate
broader meaning; includes chest compressions and other life support
Grammar Patterns
bag + patient
Usage Note
Technical medical term. Almost never used outside hospital or emergency care contexts. The device used is called a 'bag valve mask' or 'resuscitation bag'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All five words describe something that holds or stores items, but they differ in size, material, and typical use. A 'bag' is the most general term — a flexible container with an opening, made of paper, plastic, or cloth, used for everyday carrying or storage. A 'sack' is larger and stronger, usually made of thick material like jute or canvas, and used for heavy or bulk items such as potatoes, grain, or coal. A 'pouch' is small, often with a drawstring or seal, used for keeping money, tobacco, or small personal items close at hand. A 'packet' is a flat, sealed paper or plastic wrapper for dry goods like sugar, soup mix, or seeds — it is not reusable like a bag. 'Container' is the broadest and most formal term, covering boxes, jars, bins, and tubs of any material: not limited to flexible or portable items. For everyday use, 'bag' is the most natural choice for shopping, travel, and storage, while 'sack' and 'pouch' are more specific.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'bag' entered English around the 13th century from Old Norse 'baggi', meaning a pack or bundle. Early uses referred to a sack for carrying goods. The verb 'to bag' (put into a bag) appeared by the 15th century, and the hunting sense (to kill game) followed in the 16th. The informal meaning 'to obtain quickly' emerged in the 19th century, while the medical verb sense (to ventilate with a resuscitation bag) is a 20th-century development.