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| Date: | 1800-1900 |
| Origin: | Probably from a Scandinavian language |
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nag1
past tense and past participle nagged, present participle nagging [intransitive and transitive]
past tense and past participle nagged, present participle nagging [intransitive and transitive]1 to keep asking someone to do something, or to keep complaining to someone about their behaviour, in an annoying way [↪ pester]: 
I wish you'd stop nagging!
I wish you'd stop nagging!2 to make someone feel continuously worried or uncomfortable One question still nagged me.
nag at a problem that had been nagging at him for days
a problem that had been nagging at him for daysOne question still nagged me.WORD FOCUS: ask WORD FOCUS: ask
request to officially ask for something
consult to ask someone for advice
demand to ask for something very forcefully
nag/pester to keep asking for something many times, in an annoying way
beg/plead to ask for something in an anxious or urgent way, because you want it very much
question/interrogate to ask someone questions - used especially about the police or the army
grill informal to ask someone a lot of difficult questions
cross-examine to ask someone questions in court - used about lawyers
poll to ask a lot of people for their opinion about something
➔ See also ask
WORD FOCUS: ask request to officially ask for something
consult to ask someone for advice
demand to ask for something very forcefully
nag/pester to keep asking for something many times, in an annoying way
beg/plead to ask for something in an anxious or urgent way, because you want it very much
question/interrogate to ask someone questions - used especially about the police or the army
grill informal to ask someone a lot of difficult questions
cross-examine to ask someone questions in court - used about lawyers
poll to ask a lot of people for their opinion about something
➔ See also ask
