clog
Americanverb (used with object)
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clogs,
present (3rd person singular)
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clogged,
past participle, past
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clogging
present participle
verb (used without object)
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clogs,
present (3rd person singular)
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clogged,
past participle, past
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clogging
present participle
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to become clogged, encumbered, or choked up.
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to stick; stick together.
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to do a clog dance.
noun
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clogs
plural
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anything that impedes motion or action; an encumbrance; a hindrance.
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a shoe or sandal with a thick sole of wood, cork, rubber, or the like.
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a similar but lighter shoe worn in the clog dance.
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a heavy block, as of wood, fastened to a person or beast to impede movement.
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British Dialect. a thick piece of wood.
verb
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to obstruct or become obstructed with thick or sticky matter
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(tr) to encumber; hinder; impede
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(tr) to fasten a clog or impediment to (an animal, such as a horse)
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(intr) to adhere or stick in a mass
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slang (in soccer) to foul (an opponent)
noun
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any of various wooden or wooden-soled shoes
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( as modifier )
clog dance
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a heavy block, esp of wood, fastened to the leg of a person or animal to impede motion
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something that impedes motion or action; hindrance
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slang to die
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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clogginessnoun
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cloggingnoun
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overclogverb (used with object)
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anticloggingadjective
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cloggyadjective
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cloggilyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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clogsimple
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clogssimple
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have cloggedperfect
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has cloggedperfect
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am cloggingprogressive
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are cloggingprogressive
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is cloggingprogressive
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have been cloggingperfect progressive
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has been cloggingperfect progressive
Past
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cloggedsimple
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had cloggedperfect
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was cloggingprogressive
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were cloggingprogressive
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had been cloggingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of clog
1350–1400; Middle English, of uncertain origin
Explanation
A clog is a blockage, or something that gets in the way. A clog in your kitchen sink might mean you have to call a plumber before you can wash your dishes. A clog obstructs water from flowing through pipes, and it can also be figurative, like a clog in your city's restaurant inspection system that makes it impossible for people to open new cafes. When clog is a verb, it means to cause such a hindrance. A completely different kind of clog is a heavy, wooden-soled shoe. In the 14th century, a clogge was a "lump of wood," and the verb first meant, "hinder with a block of wood."
Vocabulary lists containing clog
The Devil's Arithmetic
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"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 3
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Earth Day
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Birkenstock CEO Oliver Reichert highlighted the trend during the German sandal and clog maker’s quarterly earnings call on Thursday.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
The natural option, a blue-green microalgae called spirulina, proved to be too costly and thick in consistency, causing factory equipment to clog during candy production.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026
The more viscous material can clog up factories’ spray nozzles, resulting in spotty, unevenly colored candy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Already, the excess heat in the tank has caused the MMA to harden and clog the failing tank’s valves, rendering it impossible for crews to drain the dangerous chemical or add stabilizing agents, Freeman said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026
The other passengers extend themselves into the aisles; baggage expands, smoke drifts in the stale air, food wrappings clog the washrooms.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
It’s somewhat of an idyllic place where the seashore is lined with wooden houses; sheep graze along the grassy cliffsides and residents wander around the shops in bathrobes and clogs, right after their morning swims.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
The Crocs brand, which includes its namesake foam clogs, reported quarterly revenue of more than $1 billion for the first time for the period ended June 30.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Meanwhile, the Crocs brand’s classic clogs oversaturated North America, so the company provided fewer pairs to wholesalers in response to slower sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
"I mean, people have asked here if when he pops his clogs ... can he be stuffed for the museum?"
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
There were beach sandals from Puerto Rico and clogs from Amsterdam and a sphinx from Egypt.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
French motorists have clogged TotalEnergies service stations in recent months to fill up with discount petrol, after the energy giant capped its prices at 1.99 euros per litre.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
During the previous mission, SpaceX said the booster’s three center engines showed signs of being clogged by ice, which prevented a successful boostback burn.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Residents in the area reported power shortages, flooded garages and drains clogged with sand.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
Sign up to mailing lists using a second email account so your main inbox won't get clogged up with offers.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
Sometimes you will find the sinks clogged up with paper towels or see wadded toilet paper hanging from the ceiling.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
This week, Randy’s identity is “real cyclist,” which puts him at war with the packs of e-bike-riding kids now clogging South Park’s bike lanes.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
French motorists are clogging TotalEnergies service stations to fill up with discount gasoline but its rivals are crying foul, accusing the energy giant of distorting competition with the encouragement of the government.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
On March 6, 1971, a few thousand people marched down the Las Vegas Strip, clogging the glitzy artery through which the city’s money flowed, to protest cuts to public assistance for the poor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
The problem is similar to mineral scale building up inside a tea kettle or clogging a shower head over time, except seawater contains far higher concentrations of dissolved salts.
From Science Daily ● May 31, 2026
She’s clogging a few beats behind the music and keeps rolling her eyes.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
