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wade

1 of 2

verb

waded; wading
Synonyms of wadenext

intransitive verb

1
: to step in or through a medium (such as water) offering more resistance than air
2
: to move or proceed with difficulty or labor
wade through the crowd
wade through all the evidence
3
: to set to work or attack with determination or vigor
used with in or into
wade into a task

transitive verb

: to pass or cross by wading
wadable adjective
or wadeable

wade

2 of 2

noun

: an act of wading
a wade in the brook

Examples of wade in a Sentence

Verb We waded into the ocean. I jumped off the boat and waded back to shore. Police waded into the crowd. We waded through the crowded bus station. It took several weeks to wade through all the evidence. We waded our way through the crowd.
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.
Verb
At times, the search for the pipe bomber appeared to become lost in what was the largest investigation in FBI history, as agents and prosecutors waded through security video, body camera footage and social media to identify the thousands of people who clashed with police and entered the Capitol. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025 In this new family-friendly musical, Hippo Cove’s newest arrival is ready to wade out of the background and into his own big moment. Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Dec. 2025 The accompanying Ultrasound Tour is just as stripped down and sensual, with Lorde wearing duct tape and boxer briefs and wading into the crowd to break down the boundaries between audience and artist. Rachel Handler, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 Many people have been stranded on rooftops, scrambling to escape rising floodwaters, while videos show others trying to wade through high waters. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wade

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English wadan; akin to Old High German watan to go, wade, Latin vadere to go

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1665, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wade was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wade. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

wade

verb
ˈwād
waded; wading
1
: to step in or through a substance (as water, mud, or sand) that is thicker than air
2
a
: to move or proceed slowly or with difficulty
wade through a dull book
b
: to attack or work energetically
waded into their chores
3
: to pass or cross by wading
wade a stream

More from Merriam-Webster on wade

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