lugged; lugging
2
: to carry laboriously
lugged the bags to the car
3
: to introduce in a forced manner
lugs my name into the argument
1
: to pull with effort : tug
2
: to move heavily or by jerks
the car lugs on hills
3
of a racehorse
: to swerve from the course toward or away from the inside rail
1
archaic
a
: an act of lugging
b
: something that is lugged
c
: a shipping container for produce
2
: lugsail
3
lugs plural
: superior airs or affectations
put on lugs
4
slang
: an exaction of money
—used in the phrase put the lug on
1
: something (such as a handle) that projects like an ear: such as
a
: a leather loop on a harness saddle through which the shaft passes
b
: a metal fitting to which electrical wires are soldered or connected
2
chiefly British
: ear
3
: a ridge (as on the bottom of a shoe) to increase traction
4
: a nut used to secure a wheel on an automotive vehicle
called also lug nut
5
a
: a big clumsy fellow
b
: an ordinary commonplace person
Synonyms
Examples of lug in a Sentence
Verb
She had to lug her suitcases out to the car by herself.
I was lugging a heavy camera around all day.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
Julian insisted on climbing back up himself before collapsing halfway in a fit of hot tears, forcing me to scoop up this sweaty 27-pound sack of potatoes and lug him a quarter mile back to the car.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
Inside the lobby of the beachy chic 18-room Sense Beach House on 4th and Ocean, a pair of stand-up paddleboards are propped against a wall, free for guests to grab and lug across the street for an impromptu ocean paddle.
—Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Some still use burros to lug water from the well uphill to the village.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Soon the group lugged over black bags, opened them, and laid out something that looked like chains.
—Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 8 Mar. 2024
There’s lugging a ton of stuff in a heavy-duty mat bag, there’s traveling ultra-light with just a strap, and then there’s packing a few non-negotiable items alongside your mat.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024
There’s no need to lug in a 6-foot specimen tree to add bodacious botanicals into your home, because even the smallest planters can make a big impact when intentionally pairing striking foliage with a unique vessel.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
Durham remembers his father lugging them around the valley as a kid.
—Joe Sills, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
The funky lug sole is a stylish accent when worn with wide-leg trousers or cropped jeans, and also adds a subtle boost of height without the pain of heels.
—Jennifer Chan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024
That’s also because the movie has a quasi-magical force for good in the lovable lug who comes on like a loose cannon, threatening disaster at every turn, but somehow, with guilelessness and honesty, always manages to emerge smelling like roses.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024
The heavy lug sole offers some traction and stability on slippery or snowy surfaces.
—Calin Van Paris, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024
Luxury electric cars with extended range lug around lots of heavy batteries.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2024
What to Consider The four-millimeter lugs slow runners down on smooth surfaces.
—Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2024
The concrete and glass structure was designed to resemble a ship, with 12 glass sails and, in a similar glass-panel construct, the watch’s case, dial, lugs and hands are made of a single 200-kilo block of sapphire.
—Carol Bresler, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024
These stylish boots by Soda Pilot have a lug sole with durable traction to enhance stability.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
If it can be stabilized, tugboats can possibly lug the ship to shore.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
Julian insisted on climbing back up himself before collapsing halfway in a fit of hot tears, forcing me to scoop up this sweaty 27-pound sack of potatoes and lug him a quarter mile back to the car.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
Inside the lobby of the beachy chic 18-room Sense Beach House on 4th and Ocean, a pair of stand-up paddleboards are propped against a wall, free for guests to grab and lug across the street for an impromptu ocean paddle.
—Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Some still use burros to lug water from the well uphill to the village.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Soon the group lugged over black bags, opened them, and laid out something that looked like chains.
—Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 8 Mar. 2024
There’s lugging a ton of stuff in a heavy-duty mat bag, there’s traveling ultra-light with just a strap, and then there’s packing a few non-negotiable items alongside your mat.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024
There’s no need to lug in a 6-foot specimen tree to add bodacious botanicals into your home, because even the smallest planters can make a big impact when intentionally pairing striking foliage with a unique vessel.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
Durham remembers his father lugging them around the valley as a kid.
—Joe Sills, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
Finally, De Bethune’s floating lugs pivot from the mid case, making this one of the most comfortable large watches ever designed.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
The funky lug sole is a stylish accent when worn with wide-leg trousers or cropped jeans, and also adds a subtle boost of height without the pain of heels.
—Jennifer Chan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024
That’s also because the movie has a quasi-magical force for good in the lovable lug who comes on like a loose cannon, threatening disaster at every turn, but somehow, with guilelessness and honesty, always manages to emerge smelling like roses.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024
The heavy lug sole offers some traction and stability on slippery or snowy surfaces.
—Calin Van Paris, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024
Luxury electric cars with extended range lug around lots of heavy batteries.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2024
What to Consider The four-millimeter lugs slow runners down on smooth surfaces.
—Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2024
The concrete and glass structure was designed to resemble a ship, with 12 glass sails and, in a similar glass-panel construct, the watch’s case, dial, lugs and hands are made of a single 200-kilo block of sapphire.
—Carol Bresler, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024
These stylish boots by Soda Pilot have a lug sole with durable traction to enhance stability.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lug
Cite this Entry
“Lug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lug. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lug
2 of 2 noun1
: a part (as a handle) that projects like an ear
2
: a nut used to hold a wheel on an automotive vehicle
3
a
: a big clumsy fellow
b
: an ordinary commonplace person
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share