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Literary Devices

Figure of Speech · Syntax & Structure

Zeugma

Zeugma is a construction in which one word, often a verb, governs or applies to two or more other parts of a sentence; in a common form, that governing word relates to the coordinated elements in different senses.

In zeugma, one word does grammatical work across two or more coordinated parts of a sentence. The relationship may be straightforward, but many familiar examples create wit or surprise because the governing word takes on a different sense with each part.

She opened the door and her doubts.
Opened governs both door and doubts, shifting from a literal sense to a figurative one; this semantic-shift form is often also called syllepsis.

See it in language

Examples of Zeugma

  1. She opened the door and her doubts.

    Instructional example

  2. He lost his ticket, his temper, and the last train home.

    Instructional example

    Lost governs three objects while shifting across possession, composure, and opportunity, demonstrating the semantic-shift form often associated with zeugma or syllepsis.

  3. The storm broke the window and their confidence.

    Instructional example

    Broke governs both window and confidence while shifting from physical damage to figurative loss, demonstrating the common semantic-shift form.

Read like an editor

How to recognize it

  1. Find one word, often a verb or preposition, that governs or applies to multiple coordinated elements.
  2. Notice whether the governing word shifts sense across those elements, while recognizing that semantic shift is common rather than mandatory under the broader definition.
  3. Distinguish rhetorically purposeful shared governance from an ordinary list whose shared verb produces no meaningful compression, wit, or emphasis.

Meaning and effect

Why writers use Zeugma

Create concision
Zeugma lets one governing word serve multiple coordinated elements, compressing relationships that might otherwise require repeated wording.
Create emphasis
The semantic turn draws attention to the coordinated terms.
Develop tone
Compressed double use can produce wit, irony, gravity, or surprise.

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Related devices

Questions readers ask

Frequently asked questions

Is zeugma the same as syllepsis?

Usage varies across authorities: some treat them as synonyms, while others distinguish grammatical from semantic mismatch. This proposal uses zeugma as the broader classroom label and flags the nuance.

Does zeugma always use a verb?

No. A verb is common, but another governing word, such as a preposition, can connect multiple terms.