bog

¹ American  

[bog, bawg] / bɒg, bɔg /

noun

1. wet, spongy ground with soil composed mainly of decayed vegetable matter.

2. an area or stretch of such ground.

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verb (used with or without object)

bogs, present (3rd person singular) bogged, past participle, past bogging present participle

1. to sink in or as if in a bog (often followed bydown ).

   We were bogged down by overwork.

verb phrase

1. bog in to eat heartily and ravenously.

bog ² American  

[bog, bawg] / bɒg, bɔg /

noun

British Slang.

1. a lavatory; bathroom.

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bog British  

/ bɒɡ /

noun

1. wet spongy ground consisting of decomposing vegetation, which ultimately forms peat

2. an area of such ground

3. a place or thing that prevents or slows progress or improvement

4. a slang word for lavatory

5. slang the act or an instance of defecating

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bog Scientific  

/ bôg /

1. An area of wet, spongy ground consisting mainly of decayed or decaying peat moss (sphagnum) and other vegetation. Bogs form as the dead vegetation sinks to the bottom of a lake or pond, where it decays slowly to form peat. Peat bogs are important to global ecology, since the undecayed peat moss stores large amounts of carbon that would otherwise be released back into the atmosphere. Global warming may accelerate decay in peat bogs and release more carbon dioxide, which in turn may cause further warming.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• boggy
  adjective
• bogginess
  noun
• boggish
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have bogged
  perfect
• has bogged
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is bogging
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am bogging
  progressive 1st person singular
• bogging
  participle
• have been bogging
  perfect progressive
• are bogging
  progressive
• has been bogging
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• bogs
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had bogged
  perfect
• were bogging
  progressive plural
• had been bogging
  perfect progressive
• was bogging
  progressive singular
• bogged
  simple
• bogged
  participle

Future

• will bog
  simple
• will have bogged
  perfect
• will be bogging
  progressive
• will have been bogging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of bog¹

1495–1505; < Irish or Scots Gaelic bogach soft ground ( bog soft + -ach noun suffix); bog ¹ ( def. 4 ) perhaps a different word

Origin of bog²

1780–90; probably shortening of bog-house; compare bog to defecate, boggard (16th century) privy, of obscure origin

Explanation

You'd be pretty soggy by morning if you accidentally set your tent up in a bog. A bog is a swampy kind of ground made up mostly of decomposing plants and mosses. Nothing can be built on a bog because the ground is so spongy and damp, and no crops can be grown there. The dried soil from a bog can, however, be dried and burned for fuel. A figurative bog is anything that you tend to get stuck in, like a bog of health problems. Things can also "bog you down", or slow you down literally or figuratively, like when your homework bogs you down so you can't enjoy the weekend.

Example Sentences

But he’s also puckish – sylph-like and otherworldly, seductive and repellent, as likely to swaddle Sarah in her heart’s desire as he is to toss her into the belching, farting Bog of Eternal Stench.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026

"I am disappointed that, in spite of the continued efforts of the commission, Columba's remains have not been located at Bragan Bog, County Monaghan."

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

The mazes at Coffin Creek had names like Chambers of the Mausoleum, Labyrinth of Lost Relics, Bog of the Abyss, the Dark Realm and Coffin Creek Manor, the legend’s namesake.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2025

At Garry Bog near Ballymoney in County Antrim, more than 3,000 dams have been created to block drains and raise the water table back up.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2025

And Xan took Glerk’s hand, and they turned their faces toward the endless Bog, and began walking.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

Related Words

• lowland
• marshland
• wetlands