plod

verb

ˈpläd 

plodded; plodding

intransitive verb

1

: to work laboriously and monotonously : drudge

2

a

: to walk heavily or slowly : trudge

b

: to proceed slowly or tediously

the movie's plot just plods along

transitive verb

: to tread slowly or heavily along or over

plod noun

plodder noun

ploddingly

ˈplä-diŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• struggle
• strive
• labor
• work
• try

Examples of plod in a Sentence

We plodded through mud that came up past our ankles.

I could hear my roommate plodding up the steps to our apartment.

We plodded our way across the muddy field.

He plodded through his work.

The day was plodding along.

Recent Examples on the Web

For the fiction writer, stuck at the plodding speed of publishing, such a maneuver requires gauging both political velocity and cultural direction. —Book Marks july 10, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025

The arrests have spread fed confusion and fear, especially among asylum-seekers, who are accustomed to remaining free while their cases plod their way through the system. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 26 June 2025

That is a breakneck pace for the tech world, let alone the plodding rhythms of Hollywood. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 30 May 2025

The civil case has plodded along within the confines imposed by White’s order staying proceedings. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for plod

• awed
• baaed
• baud
• bawd
• brod
• clawed
• cod
• flawed
• fraud
• gnawed
• god
• jawed

Kids Definition

plod

verb

ˈpläd 

plodded; plodding

1

: to walk heavily or slowly : trudge

2

: to work or study with effort

3

: to progress or develop slowly

plod noun

plodder noun

ploddingly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb