juggle meaning and examples

2025-08-27

Meaning

Juggle has both literal and figurative meanings:

  1. Literal: To continuously throw and catch objects (like balls or clubs) in the air, keeping at least one in the air at all times.
  2. Figurative: To handle or manage many tasks, responsibilities, or situations at the same time.

As a noun, juggle refers to the act of juggling or the performance of it.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Verb (transitive and intransitive), Noun

  • Verb patterns:

    • juggle something → "She can juggle three balls."
    • juggle with something → "He is juggling with deadlines."
    • juggle between A and B → "She juggles between work and family."

Common Phrases

  • juggle balls/clubs/knives – literal juggling objects
  • juggle responsibilities – manage multiple duties
  • juggle between A and B – switch focus between two things
  • juggle one’s time – try to manage limited time across activities

Collocations

  • verb + juggle: try to juggle, learn to juggle, manage to juggle
  • noun + juggle: a difficult juggle, a time juggle, work-life juggle
  • adjective + juggle: tricky juggle, constant juggle, impressive juggle

Examples

  1. The clown could juggle five colorful balls at once.
  2. She is juggling two jobs while studying at university.
  3. Parents often have to juggle work and family responsibilities.
  4. He learned to juggle oranges at the market.
  5. Balancing friendship, work, and hobbies can feel like a constant juggle.
  6. The manager tried to juggle several projects at the same time.
  7. It’s hard to juggle your health when your schedule is packed.
  8. The magician’s juggle act amazed the audience.
  • Literal: toss, spin, balance
  • Figurative: manage, balance, multitask, cope with