bog down

phrasal verb

bogged down; bogging down; bogs down
1
: to cause (something) to sink in wet ground
The mud bogged down the car.
The car got bogged down in the mud.
often used figuratively
It's easy to get bogged down in details.
2
: to become stuck in wet ground
The car bogged down in the mud.
often used figuratively
The story bogs down after the second chapter.

Examples of bog down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Losing talented workers with specific training could bog down government workflows, Redditors suggested. Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025 Payers, with their size and control over financial resources, can easily dictate terms and bog down providers with red tape. Chandler Barron, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 Too many redundancies bog down any sense of narrative momentum and too little structure is given to support our investment in the family’s sprawling, troubled lives. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025 Will timelines bog down when thousands of property owners try to submit plans at the same time? Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bog down

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bog down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bog%20down. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!