1
a
: a piece used to fill a hole : stopper
b
: an obtruding or obstructing mass of material resembling a stopper
2
: a flat compressed cake of tobacco
3
: a small core or segment removed from a larger object
4
: something inferior
especially
: an inferior often aged or unsound horse
5
b
6
: an artificial fishing lure used primarily for casting and made with one or more sets of gang hooks
7
: any of various devices resembling or functioning like a plug: such as
a
: a male fitting for making an electrical connection to a live circuit by insertion in a receptacle (such as an outlet)
b
: a device for connecting electric wires to a jack
8
: a piece of favorable publicity or a favorable mention usually incorporated in general matter
plugged; plugging
1
a
: to stop, make tight, or secure by inserting a plug
b
: to remedy (a deficiency) as if by inserting a plug
trying to plug the gaps in their understanding
2
: to hit with a bullet : shoot
3
: to advertise or publicize insistently
1
: to become plugged
—usually used with up
2
: to work doggedly and persistently
plugged away at her homework
3
: to fire shots
plugger
noun
Examples of plug in a Sentence
Verb
We were able to plug the hole with cement.
One of the DJs on the local radio station has been plugging the band's new album.
He plugged him right in the chest.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Matthew Kasson The fungus takes over a third of the cicada's body, replacing it with a chalky plug.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024
The Pollinator Party Pack is available by pre-order and includes a group of 16 plugs that will provide an early summer through fall progression of flowering plants.
—Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
Last year, festival organizers pulled the plug on Made In America in August 2023, one month before showtime.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024
The plane maker has been forced to reduce deliveries of its 737 Max jets after a door plug panel blew out in midair during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 1 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, the research effort has become a major attraction and recruiting plug for prospective students looking to study marine biology at Cal State Long Beach.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
But since the next-generation 737 Max 10s are caught in developmental limbo as Boeing deals with the fallout of a 737 Max 9 door plug blowout in January.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Rocking all-black and a bandana to cover his nose and mouth, Abel displays the same vexed anger as his controversial Tedros character from HBO’s The Idol, which had the plug pulled after one season.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2024
David Hamilton, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
There’s nothing like the naked body of septuagenarian rock star plugging a definitely-not-real OnlyFans to remind you that today is, in fact, April Fools’ Day.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
The auditor deemed our house moderately porous—no surprise, given its age—but didn’t see anything obvious to plug.
—Tik Root, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024
There you can get plugged into quarterly or annual gatherings that may be happening around graduation, Convocation Days, or Homecoming celebrations.
—Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Although no injuries were reported in any of the incidents, consumers, investors, and regulators, are on the lookout for any problems due to the the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout in January.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 23 Mar. 2024
The focus on reducing friction and plugging existing leaks, particularly from small 401(k) accounts, underscores the commitment to safeguarding individuals' retirement security.
—Brian Menickella, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The auditor deemed our house moderately porous — no surprise, given its age — but didn’t see anything obvious to plug.
—Tik Root, Grist, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
If the construction of this keyboard is the same as the last, expect both of these accessories to be wired and to plug into the top of the keyboard via 3.5mm jacks.
—Jon Porter, The Verge, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
The kids are also now angry at me for pulling the plug.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Matthew Kasson The fungus takes over a third of the cicada's body, replacing it with a chalky plug.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024
The Pollinator Party Pack is available by pre-order and includes a group of 16 plugs that will provide an early summer through fall progression of flowering plants.
—Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
Last year, festival organizers pulled the plug on Made In America in August 2023, one month before showtime.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024
The plane maker has been forced to reduce deliveries of its 737 Max jets after a door plug panel blew out in midair during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 1 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, the research effort has become a major attraction and recruiting plug for prospective students looking to study marine biology at Cal State Long Beach.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
But since the next-generation 737 Max 10s are caught in developmental limbo as Boeing deals with the fallout of a 737 Max 9 door plug blowout in January.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Rocking all-black and a bandana to cover his nose and mouth, Abel displays the same vexed anger as his controversial Tedros character from HBO’s The Idol, which had the plug pulled after one season.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
The panel plugged a space left for an extra emergency door on the jet, which was operated by Alaska Airlines.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
There’s nothing like the naked body of septuagenarian rock star plugging a definitely-not-real OnlyFans to remind you that today is, in fact, April Fools’ Day.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
The auditor deemed our house moderately porous—no surprise, given its age—but didn’t see anything obvious to plug.
—Tik Root, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024
There you can get plugged into quarterly or annual gatherings that may be happening around graduation, Convocation Days, or Homecoming celebrations.
—Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Although no injuries were reported in any of the incidents, consumers, investors, and regulators, are on the lookout for any problems due to the the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout in January.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 23 Mar. 2024
The focus on reducing friction and plugging existing leaks, particularly from small 401(k) accounts, underscores the commitment to safeguarding individuals' retirement security.
—Brian Menickella, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The auditor deemed our house moderately porous — no surprise, given its age — but didn’t see anything obvious to plug.
—Tik Root, Grist, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
If the construction of this keyboard is the same as the last, expect both of these accessories to be wired and to plug into the top of the keyboard via 3.5mm jacks.
—Jon Porter, The Verge, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near plug
Cite this Entry
“Plug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plug. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plug
1 of 2 noun1
: a piece used to close or fill a hole
2
: a flat cake of tightly pressed tobacco leaves
3
: something of lesser quality
especially
: a worn-out horse
5
: a lure with several hooks used in casting for fish
6
: a device usually on a cord used to make an electrical connection by putting it into another part (as a socket)
7
: a piece of favorable publicity
plug
2 of 2 verb
plugged; plugging
1
: to stop, make tight, or secure with or as if with a plug
plug the leak with tar
2
: to hit with a bullet : shoot
3
: to advertise or publicize over and over
4
: to become plugged
—usually used with up
the drain was plugged up
5
: to keep steadily at work or in action
plugged away at my homework
plugger
noun
Medical Definition
plug
1 of 2 noun
: a piece of material (as wood or alloy) used or serving to fill a hole: as
a
: the piece in a cock that can be turned to regulate the flow of liquid or gas
b
: an obstructing mass of material in a bodily vessel or opening (as of the cervix or a skin lesion)
c
: a filling for a hollow tooth
plug
2 of 2 transitive verb
plugged; plugging
1
: to stop, make tight, or secure (as an opening) by or as if by insertion of a plug : close an opening in
2
: to fill a cavity in (a tooth)
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