Quizzes & Games
Word of the Day
Video
New Words
My Favorites
View your list of saved words.
(You can log in using Facebook.)

ply

¹ply

verb

Definition of PLY

to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively <she plied all of her charm and intelligence to convince everyone to volunteer as tutors>

Synonyms apply, exercise, ply, put out, wield

Related Words employ, use, utilize; abuse, misapply, misuse

Learn More About

Dictionary: Definition of "ply"

Spanish Central Translation: "ply" in Spanish

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up ply? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Spell It

The commonly misspelled words quiz

Hear It, Spell It »

The Merriam-Webster
Unabridged Dictionary

Online access to a
legendary resource
Log In or Sign Up »

Learning English?
We can help.

Visit our free site designed
especially for learners and
teachers of English
LearnersDictionary.com »

Our Dictionary,
On Your Devices

Merriam-Webster,
With Voice Search
Get the Free Apps! »

New Words
Added for 2014

America's best-selling
dictionary updated for 2014!
New words include hashtag,
steampunk, and selfie.
Learn More »

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter »

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook »

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more. See all »

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary » WordCentral for Kids »

Learner's ESL Dictionary » Visual Dictionary »

Spanish Central »

Browse the Dictionary

Browse the Thesaurus

Browse the Spanish-English Dictionary

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Browse the Medical Dictionary

Browse the Concise Encyclopedia