bog down

phrasal verb

bogged down; bogging down; bogs down
1
: to cause (something) to sink in wet ground
The mud bogged down the car.
The car got bogged down in the mud.
often used figuratively
It's easy to get bogged down in details.
2
: to become stuck in wet ground
The car bogged down in the mud.
often used figuratively
The story bogs down after the second chapter.

Examples of bog down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Both Droste and Story said the disruptions bog down city processes. Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024 The ripple effects would spread globally as port congestion bogs down shipping capacity and drives up freight rates, analysts warn. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024 Don’t Expect Perfection Sometimes, the need for perfection bogs down the process. Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2024 Perhaps most worrying, a normalization agreement would bog down the United States in the Middle East at a time when the White House should be prioritizing other global challenges, such as countering Beijing in the South China Sea. Frederic Wehrey, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bog down 

Dictionary Entries Near bog down

Cite this Entry

“Bog down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bog%20down. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!