bog

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbäg How to pronounce bog (audio)
ˈbȯg
Synonyms of bognext
geography : wet spongy ground
especially : a poorly drained usually acid area rich in accumulated plant material, frequently surrounding a body of open water, and having a characteristic flora (as of sedges, heaths, and sphagnum)

bog

2 of 3

verb

bogged; bogging

transitive verb

: to cause to sink into or as if into a bog (see bog entry 1) : impede, mire
usually used with down
a car that had gotten bogged down in the mud
easy to get bogged down in the details

intransitive verb

: to become impeded or stuck
usually used with down
Extra demand can cause the system to bog down.

bog

3 of 3

noun (2)

British

Examples of bog in a Sentence

Noun (1) got a shoe stuck in the bog Noun (2) they're out of paper in the bog again
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
They can be found in nutrient-poor environments such as bogs, swamps and acidic wetlands, where plants have had no choice but to evolve an alternative strategy for survival. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026 Egypt’s mummies are the most well-known, but the process can also happen naturally in places like glacier ice, desert sands and bog sludge. Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
The key is to bring along versatile, quality clothing pieces that can be worn for a variety of activities and to streamline your accessories—like hand warmers, neck gaiters, and wool socks—that won’t bog your suitcase down. Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026 Chess bogs its narrator down with needless exposition and jokes more deserving of an eye roll than a laugh. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bog

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English (Scots), from Scottish Gaelic & Irish bog- (as in bogluachair bulrushes), from bog marshy, literally, soft, from Middle Irish bocc; probably akin to Old English būgan to bend — more at bow

Noun (2)

short for boghouse, from British argot bog to defecate

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1599, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bog was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bog. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

bog

1 of 2 noun
ˈbäg How to pronounce bog (audio)
ˈbȯg
: wet spongy ground
especially : a poorly drained acid area in which dead plant matter accumulates and sphagnum grows in abundance
boggy adjective

bog

2 of 2 verb
bogged; bogging
: to sink or become stuck in or as if in a bog
get bogged down in too much detail

More from Merriam-Webster on bog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!