wades; waded; wading
1
: to walk through water
We waded into the ocean.
I jumped off the boat and waded back to shore.
(US) They took off their sandals and waded [=(Brit) paddled] at the edge of the pond.
They waded the river. [=they crossed the river by walking through the water]
2
a
: to move or proceed with difficulty
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.
b
: to become involved in a discussion, situation, activity, etc., in a forceful, direct, or careless way
—usually + in or into
Most politicians would have tried to avoid the subject, but he waded right in.
She waded right into their argument.
Cite this Entry
“Wade.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/wade. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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