plow

verb

plowed; plowing; plows

transitive verb

1

a

: to turn, break up, or work (dirt, soil, land, etc.) with a plow

b

: to make (something, such as a furrow) with a plow

2

: to cut into, open, or make furrows or ridges in with or as if with a plow

3

: to cleave the surface of or move through (water)

whales plowing the ocean

4

: to clear away snow from with a snowplow

plow the street

5

: to spend or invest (money) in substantial amounts

—used with into

plow money into stocks

intransitive verb

1

a

: to use a plow

b

: to undergo plowing

2

a

: to move forcefully into or through something

the car plowed into a fence

b

: to proceed steadily and laboriously

had to plow through a stack of letters

plowable

ˈplau̇-ə-bəl 

adjective

plower

ˈplau̇(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms of plow

• rake
• cultivate
• furrow

Examples of plow in a Sentence

The soil was freshly plowed.

They used oxen to plow the field.

My street hasn't been plowed yet.

We hired someone to plow the snow from our driveway.

The town won't start plowing until the storm is almost over.

a ship plowing the ocean

They continued to plow their way through the tall grass.

Recent Examples on the Web

The community is in shock after a driver plowed his car into some businesses in the Castro District early Sunday morning. —Sooji Nam, CBS News, 1 June 2026

Softbank has plowed more than $30 billion into OpenAI, with its investment gains in the company totaling $45 billion in the year ended March. —Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 31 May 2026

When on a ladder, use a four-prong garden tool in a plowing motion to push leaves out of gutters. —Emerson Latham, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026

The driver appeared to have plowed through the crossing barrier, Federal Police spokesperson An Berger said. —Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing plow

• plow ahead
• plow back
• plow into
• plow on
• plow under
• under the plow

Rhymes for plow

• bao
• bough
• brow
• chow
• ciao
• clow
• cow
• dao
• dow
• frau
• hao
• hau

Kids Definition

plow

1 of 2 noun

ˈplau̇ 

1

: a farm machine used to cut, lift, and turn over soil

2

: a device (as a snowplow) used to spread or clear away matter on the ground

plow

2 of 2 verb

1

: to open, break up, or work with a plow

plow a furrow

2

: to move forcefully into or through

a ship plowing the waves

3

: to go steadily and with great effort

plow through a report

4

: to clear away snow from with a plow

plow the road