plod

verb

ˈpläd 

plodded; plodding

intransitive verb

1

: to work laboriously and monotonously : drudge

2

a

: to walk heavily or slowly : trudge

b

: to proceed slowly or tediously

the movie's plot just plods along

transitive verb

: to tread slowly or heavily along or over

plod noun

plodder noun

ploddingly

ˈplä-diŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• bang away
• beaver (away)
• dig (away)
• drudge
• endeavor
• fag
• grub
• hump
• hustle
• labor
• moil
• peg (away)
• plow
• plug
• slave
• slog
• strain
• strive
• struggle
• sweat
• toil
• travail
• tug
• work

Examples of plod in a Sentence

We plodded through mud that came up past our ankles.

I could hear my roommate plodding up the steps to our apartment.

We plodded our way across the muddy field.

He plodded through his work.

The day was plodding along.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the meantime, the plodding march into the uncertain next chapter of college sports realignment continues. —Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024

The flashback narrative is plodding, too, making a redundant case for parental concern that the audience would have accepted as normal behavior without explanation. —Michael Alan Connelly, Vulture, 1 July 2024

Vance plodded on, trying to dislodge some bit of affinity. 08.26.2024 Trump’s Grave Photo Op Allison Jaslow often goes to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the fallen. —The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024

Tether has been steadily plodding up all year, now at the highest market cap that it's ever attained. —Brady Dale, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

plod

verb

ˈpläd 

plodded; plodding

1

: to walk heavily or slowly : trudge

2

: to work or study with effort

3

: to progress or develop slowly

plod noun

plodder noun

ploddingly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb