jockey
1 of 2noun
jock·ey ˈjä-kē 
plural jockeys
1
: a person who rides or drives a horse especially as a professional in a race
2
: a person who operates or works with a specified vehicle, device, object, or material
a bus jockey
pencil jockeys
jockey
2 of 2verb
jockeyed; jockeying
transitive verb
1
a
: to maneuver or manipulate by adroit or devious means
was jockeyed out of the job
b
: to change the position of by a series of movements
jockey a truck into position
2
a
: to ride or drive (a horse) as a jockey
b
: drive, operate
3
: to deal shrewdly or fraudulently with
intransitive verb
1
: to maneuver for advantage —often used in the phrase jockey for position
2
: to act as a jockey
Example Sentences
Verb There was a lot of political jockeying at the fund-raiser. The driver carefully jockeyed the truck into a narrow space in the crowded parking lot.
Recent Examples on the Web
BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2021 Speaking of Taiba, the least experienced horse in the field will have the most experienced jockey on his back in two-time Derby winner Mike Smith. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 6 May 2022 Messier, the early 8-1 third choice named for hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier, and 12-1 shot Taiba. Taiba, the least experienced colt in the field, has the most experienced jockey on his back in 56-year-old Mike Smith. Beth Harris, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2022 The scene began with Churchill Downs' leadership announcing that Duke Charles will have a different jockey in the race. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2022 The Preakness winner worked a half-mile on Friday over the Belmont surface with a new jockey, the Hall of Famer John Velazquez. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2021 During the win, Leon showed off his biggest strengths as a jockey -- in particular his patience and relaxation, mixed with an innate sense of knowing when to be aggressive and how to finish strong. Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 12 May 2022 But after two years of arduous physical and mental therapy, Terrero not only returned to the racetrack but has enjoyed the greatest success of his 13-year career as a jockey. Larry Stumes, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2022 His political agenda is driven not by the real pressing needs of our state but his desire to peel away Trump supporters as the two jockey for the 2024 GOP presidential primary. NBC News, 9 Feb. 2022 Heather Somerville, WSJ, 16 May 2022 This change was implemented to prevent the killing of the drama that exists in real life when a shot is released and players jockey for rebound position. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Fans in a lot of other NBA cities will spin out of the upcoming All-Star break and watch their teams jockey for playoff position in the Western and Eastern Conferences. John Canzano, oregonlive, 17 Feb. 2022 After a lengthy break, NBA action resumes this weekend, and teams will have roughly 20 games to jockey for postseason position. Xl Media, cleveland, 25 Feb. 2022 Automakers also fear a situation similar to the current microchip supply crisis, which is forcing them to desperately jockey to be at the front of the queue as fresh chips come off the line. Gregory Barber, Wired, 18 Jan. 2022 Now jockey Sonny Leon and trainer Eric Reed have found the winner's circle again, this time in Elmont, New York, just outside of Queens. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 11 June 2022 Chief executives jockey for time on analysts’ calendars. Angel Au-yeung, WSJ, 18 June 2022 In the dogfights the planes jockey for position like matchbox cars and flip and bank and invert in ways that take your breath away. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 27 May 2022 See More
Noun
The track’s stewards also fined the 26-year-old Mejia $5,000 and recommended that the New Jersey Racing Commission permanently revoke his jockey’s license. BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2021 Speaking of Taiba, the least experienced horse in the field will have the most experienced jockey on his back in two-time Derby winner Mike Smith. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 6 May 2022 Messier, the early 8-1 third choice named for hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier, and 12-1 shot Taiba. Taiba, the least experienced colt in the field, has the most experienced jockey on his back in 56-year-old Mike Smith. Beth Harris, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2022 The scene began with Churchill Downs' leadership announcing that Duke Charles will have a different jockey in the race. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2022 The Preakness winner worked a half-mile on Friday over the Belmont surface with a new jockey, the Hall of Famer John Velazquez. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2021 During the win, Leon showed off his biggest strengths as a jockey -- in particular his patience and relaxation, mixed with an innate sense of knowing when to be aggressive and how to finish strong. Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 12 May 2022 But after two years of arduous physical and mental therapy, Terrero not only returned to the racetrack but has enjoyed the greatest success of his 13-year career as a jockey. Larry Stumes, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2022 His political agenda is driven not by the real pressing needs of our state but his desire to peel away Trump supporters as the two jockey for the 2024 GOP presidential primary. NBC News, 9 Feb. 2022 Verb
For venture capitalists who no longer have to jockey with multibillion-dollar hedge funds, the slowdown comes as a relief. Heather Somerville, WSJ, 16 May 2022 This change was implemented to prevent the killing of the drama that exists in real life when a shot is released and players jockey for rebound position. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Fans in a lot of other NBA cities will spin out of the upcoming All-Star break and watch their teams jockey for playoff position in the Western and Eastern Conferences. John Canzano, oregonlive, 17 Feb. 2022 After a lengthy break, NBA action resumes this weekend, and teams will have roughly 20 games to jockey for postseason position. Xl Media, cleveland, 25 Feb. 2022 Automakers also fear a situation similar to the current microchip supply crisis, which is forcing them to desperately jockey to be at the front of the queue as fresh chips come off the line. Gregory Barber, Wired, 18 Jan. 2022 Now jockey Sonny Leon and trainer Eric Reed have found the winner's circle again, this time in Elmont, New York, just outside of Queens. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 11 June 2022 Chief executives jockey for time on analysts’ calendars. Angel Au-yeung, WSJ, 18 June 2022 In the dogfights the planes jockey for position like matchbox cars and flip and bank and invert in ways that take your breath away. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 27 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Jockey, Scots nickname for John
First Known Use
Noun
1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1708, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3
Phrases Containing jockey
Kids Definition
jockey
noun
jock·ey ˈjä-kē
plural jockeys
1
: a professional rider in a horse race
2
: operator sense 1
jockeying
verb
as in maneuvering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- maneuvering
- engineering
- negotiating
- playing
- managing
- finessing
- manipulating
- pulling
- handling
- fielding
- swinging
- hacking
- addressing
- treating
- taking
- steering
- carrying out
- controlling
- guiding
- carrying off
- getting off
- micromanaging
- commanding
- regulating
- directing
- coping (with)
- grappling (with)
- bringing off
- contending (with)
- running
- reacting (to)
- responding (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fumbling
- bungling
- mishandling
- botching
- muffing
- goofing (up)
- messing (up)
- scamping
- lousing up
- foozling