Phrase guide

bog down

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To become stuck (as if in a bog) and unable to progress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Qualifier: "get"-passive

Examples

  • We've gotten bogged down in trifling details.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cause to become stuck and unable to progress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mire, hamper

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

get stuck while doing something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She bogged down many times while she wrote her dissertation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bog

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: break, break off, discontinue, stop

4

verb

Meaning 4

cause to slow down or get stuck

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The vote would bog down the house

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bog

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: slow, slow down, slow up

5

verb

Meaning 5

be unable to move further

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The car bogged down in the sand

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: grind to a halt, get stuck, mire

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stand still

6

verb

Meaning 6

cause to get stuck as if in a mire

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The mud mired our cart

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mire

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

39 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: s'enliser — to become stuck
  • Galician: empantanarse — to become stuck
  • Galician: estancarse — to become stuck
  • German: feststecken — to become stuck
  • German: festsitzen — to become stuck
  • Italian: impantanarsi — to become stuck
  • Italian: impaludarsi — to become stuck
  • Italian: arenarsi — to become stuck
  • Māori: powharu — to become stuck
  • Māori: tapoko — to become stuck
  • Norwegian: kjøre seg fast — to become stuck
  • Polish: utykać — to become stuck
  • Polish: utknąć — to become stuck
  • Polish: stawać — to become stuck
  • Polish: stanąć — to become stuck
  • Polish: tkwić — to become stuck
  • Polish: utkwić — to become stuck
  • Polish: grzęznąć — to become stuck
  • Polish: ugrzęznąć — to become stuck
  • Portuguese: atolar — to become stuck
  • Portuguese: empacar — to become stuck
  • Russian: застревать (zastrevatʹ) — to become stuck
  • Russian: увязать (uvjazatʹ) — to become stuck
  • Spanish: empantanarse — to become stuck
  • Spanish: estancarse — to become stuck
  • Catalan: empantanar — to cause to become stuck
  • Galician: empantanar — to cause to become stuck
  • Galician: estancar — to cause to become stuck
  • German: blockieren — to cause to become stuck
  • Māori: whakamārari — to cause to become stuck
  • Polish: zaklinowywać — to cause to become stuck
  • Polish: zaklinować — to cause to become stuck
  • Polish: blokować — to cause to become stuck
  • Polish: zablokować — to cause to become stuck
  • Polish: zatrzymywać — to cause to become stuck
  • Polish: zatrzymać — to cause to become stuck
  • Spanish: empantanar — to cause to become stuck
  • Spanish: estancar — to cause to become stuck
  • Ukrainian: загру́знути (zahrúznuty) — to cause to become stuck