Meaning & use
a jar
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A glass or plastic container with a wide mouth and a lid, used for food or other small items.
Grammar: You can say 'a jar of' + contents: a jar of honey.
Patterns
- a jar of something
She opened a jar of strawberry jam.
There is a jar of pickles in the fridge.
He keeps his coins in an old glass jar.
nouncountable
The amount that a jar holds.
Grammar: Used like a unit of measure: a jar of coffee.
Patterns
- a jar of something
We bought a jar of coffee at the supermarket.
He ate a whole jar of peanut butter.
Word forms
| plural | jars |
|---|
Common combinations
- a jar of jam
- She made a jar of jam from the plums.
- a jar of honey
- He gave me a jar of honey from his bees.
- a glass jar
- Please put the rice in a glass jar.
- open a jar
- I can't open this jar of olives.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- jarful noun
- The amount that a jar can hold.
Commonly confused: a jar or jug? a jar or jar?
a jar vs jug
A jug is for pouring liquids and has a handle and spout; a jar has a wide mouth and a lid.
a jar vs jar
As a verb, 'jar' means to shake or hurt, not to put in a jar.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'jar' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A jar is a container for food like pickles, so 'opened a jar of pickles' is correct. 'Poured milk from a jar' is wrong because milk is usually poured from a jug, not a jar.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a jar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.