verb
plod
plod
Plod (verb) means to walk slowly and heavily, with steady, tiring effort. Example: “She plodded up the hill with her heavy bags.”
verb
1
To walk slowly and heavily, with steady, tiring effort.
"She plodded up the hill with her heavy bags."
"He plodded home through the snow after his shift."
2
To keep working at something slowly and doggedly, especially something tedious.
"He plodded through the tax paperwork all weekend."
"She kept plodding away at her thesis, one page at a time."
noun
1
A slow, heavy way of walking or working.
"You could hear the plod of his boots on the stairs."
How to use plod
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo move or work slowly and steadily, usually because it is tiring or boring rather than because you are lazy.
Common mistake
In British slang "the plod" or "a plod" means a police officer — this is informal and unrelated to the verb meaning.
Common pairings
plod along
plod through
plod on
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Word forms
- Plural
- plods
- Third person singular
- plods
- Past tense
- plodded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
You could hear the _____ of his boots on the stairs.
Etymology
First recorded in Middle English, likely originally describing a heavy splash through mud or a puddle — the same idea survives in dialect words for mire.
Related words
Rhymes for plod
See all rhymes for plod →Frequently asked questions
What does “plod” mean?
The word “plod” means to walk slowly and heavily, with steady, tiring effort. In plain terms, to move or work slowly and steadily, usually because it is tiring or boring rather than because you are lazy.
How do you pronounce “plod”?
“Plod” is pronounced plod (/plɑd/ in IPA).
How do you use “plod” in a sentence?
Here is “plod” used in a sentence: “She plodded up the hill with her heavy bags.”
What part of speech is “plod”?
Depending on how it is used, “plod” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “plod” come from?
The word “plod” comes from Middle English. First recorded in Middle English, likely originally describing a heavy splash through mud or a puddle — the same idea survives in dialect words for mire.
How many meanings does “plod” have?
“Plod” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to walk slowly and heavily, with steady, tiring effort.
