1 B2 idiomatic neutral
(US) To reinvest profits or money earned back into the same business or activity.
"The startup plowed all its profits back into hiring engineers."
separable
plow back
B2 neutral separable transitive
American English: to reinvest profits or earnings back into the same business.
In plain English
To take money a business makes and put it right back into the business to help it grow.
What does "plow back" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use a plow to return material back into the soil.
Actually means
To take money a business makes and put it right back into the business to help it grow.
Usage tip
American English spelling of 'plough back.' Standard in US business journalism and financial writing. Often appears as 'plow profits back into the company.'
Words that pair with "plow back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
profits earnings revenue gains proceeds money
How to conjugate "plow back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
plow back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
plows back
he/she/it
Past simple
plowed back
yesterday
Past participle
plowed back
have + pp
-ing form
plowing back
continuous
Hear "plow back" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "plow back" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.