in the bag

phrase

Synonyms of in the bagnext
1
: sure, certain
her nomination was in the bag
also : assured of a successful conclusion : sewn up
have the game in the bag
2
slang : drunk sense 1a

Examples of in the bag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Losing a game that was seemingly in the bag — like Friday night — was tough on Venable but no doubt gut-wrenching for Getz as well. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026 Those numbers indicate the amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) as a percentage by weight in the bag or bottle. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026 Keep the kibble in the bag The FDA specifically recommends placing the entire bag inside your drawer or container rather than pouring kibble loose. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026 The first knockout games are in the bag, and another 16 teams have exited the tournament. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for in the bag

Rhymes for in the bag

See All Rhymes for in the bag

Browse Nearby Words

in the background
in the bag
in the balance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In the bag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20bag. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on in the bag

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for in the bag

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All