plies; plied; plying
formal
1
a
: to work at (a job, activity, etc.)
The carpenter plies his art/craft in his workshop.
Wood-carvers were plying their trade [=doing their work] in the town square.
a street where many artists ply their wares [=sell their goods] on the sidewalk
b
old-fashioned
: to use (something, such as a tool) with care and skill
She makes a living as a writer, busily plying her pen each day.
2
always followed by an adverb or preposition of a bus, ship, airplane, etc.
: to go along the same route regularly : to travel on a particular road, way, etc., regularly
Barges plied back and forth along the canal.
Two ferries ply between the island and mainland in the summer months.
Trucks ply the highway between the two cities.
ships plying the country's northern coast
plural plies
: one of the layers, folds, or strands that make something (such as yarn or plywood)
a single ply of fabric
—usually used in combinationfour-ply yarn [=yarn made up of four strands]
two-ply paper towels
Cite this Entry
“Ply.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/ply. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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