Jog means to run at a steady, relaxed pace, slower than a sprint but faster than a walk. When you jog, you're moving at a comfortable speed you can keep up for a while without getting exhausted. Picture someone running through the park in the morning, breathing steadily, able to talk if they wanted to. That's jogging.

People jog to build stamina, stay healthy, or clear their minds. Unlike racing, where you push yourself to go as fast as possible, jogging is about finding a rhythm you can maintain. A jogger might cover a few miles, enjoying the movement and fresh air rather than chasing a finish line.

As a noun, a jog is a short run at that steady, relaxed pace.

The word can also mean to bump or shake something lightly. You might jog someone's elbow accidentally while walking past them, or jog a table and make the drinks wobble. When someone says a photo jogged their memory, they mean it gave their brain a gentle nudge that helped them remember something they'd forgotten. The idea is the same: a small shake or push that gets something moving again.