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ajar

1 American  
[uh-jahr] / əˈdʒɑr /

adjective

  1. neither entirely open nor entirely shut; partly open.

    The door was ajar.
ajar 2 American  
[uh-jahr] / əˈdʒɑr /

adverb

  1. in contradiction to; at variance with.

    a story ajar with the facts.
ajar 1 British  
/ əˈdʒɑː /

adjective

  1. (esp of a door or window) slightly open

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
ajar 2 British  
/ əˈdʒɑː /

adjective

  1. (postpositive) not in harmony

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ajar1

1350–1400; Middle English on char on the turn; a- 1, char 3

Origin of ajar2

1545–55; for at jar at discord; jar 3 (noun)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A defeat would leave the door ajar for Pakistan to beat eliminated Sri Lanka on Saturday with the second semi-final berth then being decided on net run rate.

From Barron's

At the very end of the passageway was a door, slightly ajar with light spilling out.

From Literature

A defender must monitor every virtual door and window; an attacker need only find one that is ajar.

From The Wall Street Journal

According to media reports, the ICC is still waiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the boycott, leaving the door slightly ajar for a last-minute deal to get the game on.

From Barron's

I leave her door ajar so I can hear if she calls.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.