plod

American  

[plod] / plɒd /

verb (used without object)

plodded, plodding

1. to walk heavily or move laboriously; trudge.

   to plod under the weight of a burden.

2. to proceed in a tediously slow manner.

   The play just plodded along in the second act.

3. to work with constant and monotonous perseverance; drudge.

   Synonyms:

   labor, moil, toil

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verb (used with object)

plodded, plodding

1. to walk heavily over or along.

noun

1. the act or a course of plodding.

2. a sound of a heavy tread.

plod British  

/ plɒd /

verb

1. to make (one's way) or walk along (a path, road, etc) with heavy usually slow steps

2. (intr) to work slowly and perseveringly

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noun

1. the act of plodding

2. the sound of slow heavy steps

3. slang a policeman

Related Words

See pace ¹.

Other Word Forms

• outplod
  verb (used with object)
• plodder
  noun
• plodding
  adjective
• ploddingly
  adverb
• ploddingness
  noun
• unplodding
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of plod

First recorded in 1555–65; perhaps imitative

Explanation

When you plod, you walk slowly, heavily, and deliberately. You might need to plod through the snow to get to the bus stop on time. Plod evokes a difficulty in walking — like when you trudge through mud or walk slowly up a steep hill. You might plod home at the end of a long day, or plod through an overgrown field on a hot afternoon. You can also use plod figuratively to mean "work on something boring or monotonous." The origin of plod is unknown, but it may have come from the sound of feet on the ground — the sound you make when you plod.

Example Sentences

In Kirk’s name, they will continue to plod through long, grueling, nonsensical arguments about Egyptian aircraft and Emmanuel Macron, with people who are simply never going to listen.

From Slate • Dec. 22, 2025

When it became obvious the painfully slow-paced event would plod past 4½ hours, the Draft House was closed to some teams.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2025

In trying to make media-watching “easier,” tech has slowed the process to a maddening plod.

From Salon • May 22, 2025

“We expect the eurozone to plod along in the coming quarters in the absence of a strong growth driver, rather than jump-starting a strong expansion,” Nobile said.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2023

Whatever perils lay ahead, it seemed better to float down the broad tide of Anduin to meet them than to plod forward with bent backs.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• lumber
• slog
• tramp
• trudge