1
: an implement used to cut, lift, and turn over soil especially in preparing a seedbed
2
: any of various devices (such as a snowplow) operating like a plow
plowed; plowing; plows
1
a
: to turn, break up, or work with a plow
b
: to make (something, such as a furrow) with a plow
2
: to cut into, open, or make furrows or ridges in with or as if with a plow
3
: to cleave the surface of or move through (water)
whales plowing the ocean
4
: to clear away snow from with a snowplow
plow the street
5
: to spend or invest (money) in substantial amounts
—used with into
plow money into stocks
1
a
: to use a plow
b
: to undergo plowing
2
a
: to move forcefully into or through something
the car plowed into a fence
b
: to proceed steadily and laboriously
had to plow through a stack of letters
Synonyms
Examples of plow in a Sentence
Verb
The soil was freshly plowed.
They used oxen to plow the field.
My street hasn't been plowed yet.
We hired someone to plow the snow from our driveway.
The town won't start plowing until the storm is almost over.
a ship plowing the ocean
They continued to plow their way through the tall grass.
Recent Examples on the Web
Max Levy, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025
Snow plows and other equipment will also be on standby if needed ahead of the game.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2025
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
The wildfire plowing through homes in California's Pacific Palisades was at Tiptoe's doorstep that Tuesday, forcing Doran and her extended family to flee with the 175-pound reptile in tow.
—Alina Hartounian, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for plow 
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Noun
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s statewide map showed all interstate and major state highways open as of 10:30 a.m., with dozens of plows busy scraping roadways.
—Max Levy, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025
Snow plows and other equipment will also be on standby if needed ahead of the game.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
There's a race underway around the world, and the Europeans and others have plowed a lot of not just resources, but prioritization, in being the leaders on the next sort of revolution in industrial technologies.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
The wildfire plowing through homes in California's Pacific Palisades was at Tiptoe's doorstep that Tuesday, forcing Doran and her extended family to flee with the 175-pound reptile in tow.
—Alina Hartounian, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for plow
Dictionary Entries Near plow
Cite this Entry
“Plow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plow. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plow
1 of 2 noun1
: a farm machine used to cut, lift, and turn over soil
2
: a device (as a snowplow) used to spread or clear away matter on the ground
plow
2 of 2 verb1
: to open, break up, or work with a plow
plow a furrow
2
: to move forcefully into or through
a ship plowing the waves
3
: to go steadily and with great effort
plow through a report
4
: to clear away snow from with a plow
plow the road
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