variants
or schlepp
or less commonly shlep
or shlepp
schlepped also shlepped; schlepping also shlepping
: 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
While men took to the open road, women were often left to schlep children and groceries.
—
Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
Shiny jet-black walls inject a dose of drama into the guest bedroom, and the guest bath off the kitchen includes a laundry closet, so there’s no need for anyone to schlep to the building’s common laundry room.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
Thirty years ago, a customer had to schlep to a department store to sniff tester strips while fending off salespeople from all directions.
—Molly Young, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
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
Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
Shiny jet-black walls inject a dose of drama into the guest bedroom, and the guest bath off the kitchen includes a laundry closet, so there’s no need for anyone to schlep to the building’s common laundry room.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
Thirty years ago, a customer had to schlep to a department store to sniff tester strips while fending off salespeople from all directions.
—Molly Young, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
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
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
Dictionary Entries Near schlep
Cite this Entry
“Schlep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schlep. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share