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
Example Sentences
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
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2023
Good songs get beaten to death, and bad songs are impossible to pull the plug on.
—Andy O'connor, SPIN, 29 May 2023
This table saw plugs into a standard outlet and is able to make smooth and accurate cuts.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2023
After blaring music during practice to simulate crowd noise and chaotic environments through the first seven weeks of the XFL season, Brahmas coach Hines Ward pulled the plug this week.
—Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 8 Apr. 2023
It's designed with three standard outlet plugs and two USB-A ports for charging cables.
—Ellen Mcalpine, Women's Health, 28 Feb. 2023
The National Federation of Mines and Energy recently threatened to literally pull the plug on the film festival.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2023
In April BuzzFeed moved to pull the plug on its news operation and laid off 180 workers amid a sharp drop in the company's growth.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 15 May 2023
Pulling the plug on the jobs app also means scrapping product and engineering teams in China, and the downsizing of corporate, sales, and marketing functions.
—Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 9 May 2023
Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 31 May 2023
That wire leads to a charging station, which is plugged into a 120-volt exterior outlet.
—Kate Morgan, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2023
In state waters, however, the states can be left with the responsibility of plugging inactive wells.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2023
Luckily, the fix is simple: Unplug the Echo, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 11 May 2023
The gadget that the influencer is plugging is the Healy: a small, blue-and-white plastic disk whose makers claim emits individual microcurrent frequencies uniquely tailored to your individual health needs.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2023
Candy died in 1994 without hosting again after his Oct. 22, 1983 debut, and Levy would not appear on the show until his son Dan Levy hosted 35 years later (Footage from Levy and Candy's hosting promo was used to plug Dan's episode).
—Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 5 May 2023
These exfoliants promote cell turnover, preventing dead skin cells from plugging up your pores.
—Women's Health, 2 May 2023
The bipartisan infrastructure law furnished $4.7 billion for states to plug them after the Department of Interior released $1.15 billion.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 1 May 2023
See More
Noun
Since the writers strike began, HBO has pulled the plug on talent participating in any of its Emmy events.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2023
Good songs get beaten to death, and bad songs are impossible to pull the plug on.
—Andy O'connor, SPIN, 29 May 2023
This table saw plugs into a standard outlet and is able to make smooth and accurate cuts.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2023
After blaring music during practice to simulate crowd noise and chaotic environments through the first seven weeks of the XFL season, Brahmas coach Hines Ward pulled the plug this week.
—Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 8 Apr. 2023
It's designed with three standard outlet plugs and two USB-A ports for charging cables.
—Ellen Mcalpine, Women's Health, 28 Feb. 2023
The National Federation of Mines and Energy recently threatened to literally pull the plug on the film festival.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2023
In April BuzzFeed moved to pull the plug on its news operation and laid off 180 workers amid a sharp drop in the company's growth.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 15 May 2023
Pulling the plug on the jobs app also means scrapping product and engineering teams in China, and the downsizing of corporate, sales, and marketing functions.
—Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 9 May 2023
Verb
With the new Grand Highlander, Toyota has neatly plugged a hole in its lineup that had recently grown larger with the Sequoia's new realignment.
—Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 31 May 2023
That wire leads to a charging station, which is plugged into a 120-volt exterior outlet.
—Kate Morgan, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2023
In state waters, however, the states can be left with the responsibility of plugging inactive wells.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2023
Luckily, the fix is simple: Unplug the Echo, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 11 May 2023
The gadget that the influencer is plugging is the Healy: a small, blue-and-white plastic disk whose makers claim emits individual microcurrent frequencies uniquely tailored to your individual health needs.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2023
Candy died in 1994 without hosting again after his Oct. 22, 1983 debut, and Levy would not appear on the show until his son Dan Levy hosted 35 years later (Footage from Levy and Candy's hosting promo was used to plug Dan's episode).
—Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 5 May 2023
These exfoliants promote cell turnover, preventing dead skin cells from plugging up your pores.
—Women's Health, 2 May 2023
The bipartisan infrastructure law furnished $4.7 billion for states to plug them after the Department of Interior released $1.15 billion.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 1 May 2023
See More
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.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Dutch, from Middle Dutch plugge; akin to Middle High German pfloc plug
First Known Use
Noun
1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1630, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing plug
Dictionary Entries Near plug
Cite this Entry
“Plug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plug. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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)
More from Merriam-Webster on plug
Nglish: Translation of plug for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of plug for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plug
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