1 B2 neutral
Of a vehicle or machine: to move or operate steadily while making a low, rhythmic sound
"The old fishing boat chugged away from the harbour just as the sun was rising."
chug away
B2 informal intransitive
To keep working or moving steadily, often slowly and with effort, or to make a continuous engine-like sound while doing so
In plain English
To keep going steadily — like an old engine that keeps running slowly but doesn't stop
What does "chug away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To continue working steadily on something over a period of time (figurative)
"She's been chugging away at her dissertation for the past three months."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Chug' imitates the rhythmic sound of a slow engine; 'away' suggests continuous action — 'the train chugs away down the track'
Actually means
To keep going steadily — like an old engine that keeps running slowly but doesn't stop
Usage tip
The literal sense refers to vehicles or machines making a 'chug chug' sound as they move. The figurative sense describes a person or process that keeps working steadily without stopping, often despite difficulty. Tone is often neutral or mildly affectionate — not as negative as 'grind away'.
Words that pair with "chug away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
engine train economy project machine steadily
How to conjugate "chug away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
chug away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chugs away
he/she/it
Past simple
chuged away
yesterday
Past participle
chuged away
have + pp
-ing form
chuging away
continuous
Hear "chug away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "chug away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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