plodded; plodding

intransitive verb

1
: to work laboriously and monotonously : drudge
plodded through his work
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
plodded the trail
plod noun
plodder noun
ploddingly adverb

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
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.
Fellow superstar Luka Doncic has also missed four games, but the Lakers continue to plod ahead, having won four in a row. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025 Before the former became a modern classic, its debut was considered a touch plodding and a tad dark. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025 Like most people who headed west on the trail, the Ziebers joined a larger group for safety during the five-month journey, their oxen plodding six days a week. Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025 But alternative reports from organizations like the Chicago Fed have shown an economy that’s plodding along. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plod

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plod was in 1562

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plod. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

plod

verb
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 adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on plod

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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