1 B2 idiomatic informal
To continue working steadily at a difficult or slow task without giving up
"She plugged away at her thesis for three years before finally submitting it."
plug away
B2 informal intransitive
To continue working hard at something difficult or tedious with steady determination
In plain English
To keep working hard at something even when it's difficult or takes a long time
What does "plug away" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Usually followed by 'at' plus the activity. 'Plug away at something.' Conveys a sense of unspectacular but admirable persistence. Common in both British and American informal English. Often used to encourage or describe someone making slow but steady progress.
Words that pair with "plug away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
work project task studies research practice
How to conjugate "plug away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
plug away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
plugs away
he/she/it
Past simple
pluged away
yesterday
Past participle
pluged away
have + pp
-ing form
pluging away
continuous
Hear "plug away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "plug away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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