bog

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbäg 

ˈbȯg

geography : wet spongy ground

especially : a poorly drained usually acid area rich in accumulated plant material, frequently surrounding a body of open water, and having a characteristic flora (as of sedges, heaths, and sphagnum)

bog

2 of 3

verb

bogged; bogging

transitive verb

: to cause to sink into or as if into a bog (see bog entry 1) : impede, mire

—usually used with down

a car that had gotten bogged down in the mud

easy to get bogged down in the details

intransitive verb

: to become impeded or stuck

—usually used with down

Extra demand can cause the system to bog down.

bog

3 of 3

noun (2)

British

: lavatory sense 2

Synonyms of bog

Noun (1)

• marsh
• wetland
• swamp

Noun (2)

• bathroom
• restroom
• toilet
• bath

Examples of bog in a Sentence

Noun (1)

got a shoe stuck in the bog

Noun (2)

they're out of paper in the bog again

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Turtlehead is the perfect choice for bog or rain gardens or alongside koi ponds and waterfalls. —Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026

Alex Martin / Amgueddfa Cymru In 2005, archaeologists found the remains of a Roman lead smelting site in a peat bog in Ceredigion. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026

Verb

Nothing would give Xi more satisfaction than watching the US bog itself down in another Middle East quagmire, diverting Washington’s attention and resources from China’s own backyard. —Andy Browne, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026

However, achieving major goals should not take a back seat because debating lesser policies--no matter how noble--bogs everything down. —Doug Szenher, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English (Scots), from Scottish Gaelic & Irish bog- (as in bogluachair bulrushes), from bog marshy, literally, soft, from Middle Irish bocc; probably akin to Old English būgan to bend — more at bow

Noun (2)

short for boghouse, from British argot bog to defecate

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1599, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bog

• bog asphodel
• bog bilberry
• bog blueberry
• bog down
• bog paper
• bog-standard

Rhymes for bog

• blog
• clog
• cog
• dog
• flog
• fog
• frog
• grog
• hog
• jog
• log
• og

Kids Definition

bog

1 of 2 noun

ˈbäg 

ˈbȯg

: wet spongy ground

especially : a poorly drained acid area in which dead plant matter accumulates and sphagnum grows in abundance

boggy

-ē 

adjective

bog

2 of 2 verb

bogged; bogging

: to sink or become stuck in or as if in a bog

get bogged down in too much detail