schlep

verb

variants or schlepp or less commonly or shlepp
schlepped also shlepped; schlepping also shlepping

intransitive verb

: to proceed or move especially slowly, tediously, awkwardly, or carelessly

Example Sentences

We schlepped our luggage through the airport.
Recent Examples on the Web While the Fountain Plaza Tailgate creates a place for fans to gather before the game without having to schlep a grill and a tent in the parking lot, Walls said the venue also serves another constituency — Dolphins fans who don’t have a ticket to the game. Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Plus, the removable battery can be charged on its own, so there's no need to schlep the whole vacuum over to an outlet. Clara Mcmahon, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2023 Her goal was to bring the finest musicians the organization could afford to our small town, and hear classical music performed live locally rather than having to schlep to Boston, Worcester, Providence or Storrs, 25 long and winding miles down Route 44. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 Mandating the same schedule for everyone likely will trigger resentment from employees forced to schlep into the office just to do Zoom calls all day from their desks. Deborah Lovich, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023 No kitchen, but guests can schlep in food from nearby eateries. Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2023 And many of the lodgings, such as Timberline Condominiums and the Laurelwood, are ski-in/ski-out, a blessing for parents who don’t want to schlep a team’s worth of gear to the gondola or hear complaints about ski boots being uncomfortable before the first run. Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2021 With a beam of 39 feet, the yacht will be able to schlep a full arsenal of supplies for her mothership. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Jan. 2023 The eternal query leads to more questions about the weather, your dogwalker’s availability, deadlines, free meals, and, most importantly, who else will schlep into the office. Lila Maclellan, Fortune, 6 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'schlep.' 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

Yiddish shlepn, from Middle High German sleppen, from Middle Low German slēpen

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of schlep was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near schlep

Cite this Entry

“Schlep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schlep. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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