verb
Common
wade
wayd
Wade (verb) means to walk through water or another substance that slows you down. Example: “He rolled up his trousers and waded across the shallow stream.”
verb
1
To walk through water or another substance that slows you down.
"He rolled up his trousers and waded across the shallow stream."
"The children waded into the shallow end of the lake."
"We had to wade through deep snow to reach the cabin."
2
To push through something difficult or tedious, especially a large amount of work.
"I have to wade through hundreds of emails after my holiday."
"Students must wade through dense legal texts to finish the assignment."
"She spent the afternoon wading through a stack of paperwork."
How to use wade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo walk through something that resists you — water, mud, or a mountain of tasks.
Common pairings
wade into
wade through
wade across a river
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Word forms
- Plural
- wades
- Third person singular
- wades
- Past tense
- waded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He rolled up his trousers and _____ across the shallow stream.
Etymology
From Old English "wadan" (to go or pass through), tracing back to a very old Indo-European root meaning simply "to go".
Related words
Rhymes for wade
See all rhymes for wade →Frequently asked questions
What does “wade” mean?
The word “wade” means to walk through water or another substance that slows you down. In plain terms, to walk through something that resists you — water, mud, or a mountain of tasks.
How do you pronounce “wade”?
“Wade” is pronounced wayd (/weɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “wade” in a sentence?
Here is “wade” used in a sentence: “The children waded into the shallow end of the lake.”
What part of speech is “wade”?
“Wade” is a verb.
Where does the word “wade” come from?
The word “wade” comes from Old English. From Old English "wadan" (to go or pass through), tracing back to a very old Indo-European root meaning simply "to go".
Is “wade” a common word?
“Wade” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “wade” have?
“Wade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to walk through water or another substance that slows you down.
What is the difference between "wade" and "swim"?
To "wade" is to walk through water while keeping your feet on the bottom, usually where it is shallow. To "swim" is to move through deeper water by floating and using your arms and legs, with your feet off the ground. You wade in the shallows and swim once it gets too deep to stand.
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