# dragging

/ˈdɹæɡɪŋ/ (US) · /dɹˈæɡɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dragging
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. pulling along the ground

verb · CEFR B1

pulling something heavy or difficult along the ground.

For teachers: the act of pulling an object along a surface with effort or against resistance.

- I heard the sound of someone dragging a heavy suitcase across the wooden floor.
- The workers spent the afternoon dragging the fallen branches to the edge of the property for disposal.

Usage: Often used with 'along', 'across', or 'behind'.

### 2. moving a computer item

verb · CEFR B1

using a mouse or finger to move something on a screen.

For teachers: moving a graphical object on a display by clicking it and holding the button while moving the cursor.

- Try dragging the file into the new folder to save it.
- By dragging the selected text to the sidebar, you can quickly create a new note without using the copy-paste command.

### 3. lasting too long

verb · CEFR B2

when time or an event feels very slow and boring.

For teachers: proceeding at a slow, tedious pace; often used to describe time or events that lack momentum.

- The meeting was dragging on, and everyone was looking at their watches.
- The afternoon was dragging, made worse by the humid heat and the lack of any urgent tasks to complete.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrasal verb 'drag on'.

### 4. boring or slow

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

describing something that is very dull or takes too much time.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of interest or excessive duration; tedious.

- It was a dragging afternoon with nothing to do but wait for the rain to stop.
- The dragging pace of the film's second act caused many audience members to lose interest before the climax.

Teaching tip: While 'dragging' is common as a verb, using it as a direct adjective for 'boring' is less frequent and feels more literary or informal.

### 5. car racing

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a type of race where cars compete to see who is fastest over a short, straight distance.

For teachers: a form of motor racing in which specially prepared vehicles compete, usually two at a time, to be the first to cross a set finish line.

- He spent his weekends dragging at the local track with his modified car.
- The illegal dragging on the outskirts of town prompted the police to increase patrols during the late-night hours.

## Examples

- He is dragging the heavy suitcase across the floor.
- The meeting is dragging on much longer than we expected.
- By dragging the heavy anchor across the seabed, the crew managed to slow the ship's drift toward the rocky shoreline during the storm.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.