schlep

verb

variants or schlepp or less commonly shlep or shlepp
schlepped also shlepped; schlepping also shlepping

intransitive verb

: to proceed or move especially slowly, tediously, awkwardly, or carelessly

Examples of schlep in a Sentence

We schlepped our luggage through the airport.
Recent Examples on the Web One obvious benefit is reducing the need to find people willing to schlep around a mountain in the dead of night, when temperatures can dip into single digits. Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2024 Each has a clear identity, but also generally enough variety that guests don’t necessarily have to schlep back and forth. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 If you’re forced to schlep your laptop, don’t assume heinous backpacks and pseudo-quirky canvas totes are your only recourse. Wsj Off Duty Staff / F. Martin Ramin/the Wall Street Journal; Prop Styling By Catherine Campbell Pearson , WSJ, 11 Jan. 2024 Two problems: This can play havoc with our backs, and not everyone has a bag big enough to schlep a laptop. Wsj Off Duty Staff / F. Martin Ramin/the Wall Street Journal; Prop Styling By Catherine Campbell Pearson , WSJ, 11 Jan. 2024 For others like me who still have the energy to schlep through airports, the strength to carry a packed suitcase, the patience to spend 12 hours strapped into an airplane seat, and the curiosity to see new places, solo travel can be an exciting experience. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 24 Dec. 2023 There were six parabolic mics, contraptions resembling satellite dishes that operators strap on like sandwich boards and schlep around the sidelines to soak up sounds. Jody Rosen, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023 Screenings now start as early as 9 a.m., slots that are no one’s first choice because who wants to schlep across town at that early hour? Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023 Community and the natural world are valued above all else; the adults’ relationships are enviably symbiotic, with the local soba chef (Hazuki Kikuchi) relying on Takumi to schlep her heavy jugs of stream water for her beloved noodles. Vulture, 4 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'schlep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish shlepn, from Middle High German sleppen, from Middle Low German slēpen

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of schlep was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near schlep

Cite this Entry

“Schlep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schlep. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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