# plugging

/ˈpɫəɡɪŋ/ (US) · /plˈʌɡɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/plugging
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. filling a hole

verb · CEFR B1

filling or blocking a hole so that nothing can get through.

For teachers: the act of obstructing or filling a hole or gap with a material or object.

- He spent the afternoon plugging the small gaps in the window frame to stop the cold air.
- The maintenance crew was busy plugging leaks in the old pipework before the winter pressure surge could cause a major burst.

### 2. promoting something

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

mentioning a product or service publicly to help sell it.

For teachers: the act of promoting a product, service, or event, often through repetitive mention in the media.

- The actor was on the talk show plugging his new movie.
- The author spent the entire interview plugging her latest novel, barely answering the host's questions about her personal life.

### 3. working hard

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

continuing to work hard at something that is difficult or boring.

For teachers: persisting steadily and doggedly at a task; often used with 'away'.

- She kept plugging away at her essay until it was finally finished.
- Despite the lack of immediate results, the research team kept plugging away at the data, hoping for a breakthrough in the final quarter.

### 4. material for a plug

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the material used to fill a hole or gap.

For teachers: the substance or material used to create a seal or stopper.

- The builder used a special waterproof plugging to fix the crack in the wall.
- The engineer specified a high-density plugging for the foundation to prevent groundwater from seeping into the basement level.

## Examples

- She is plugging away at her homework.
- The marketing team has been plugging the new software across every social media platform this week.
- Despite the lack of immediate results, the researchers kept plugging away at the data, eventually uncovering a pattern that had eluded their predecessors for decades.

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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.