Word
ply
US/ˈpɫaɪ/
UK/plˈaɪ/
Definition
v. to travel a route regularly or to work hard at a job. You might use it to describe a boat moving back and forth or someone selling goods on the street.
v. to travel regularly over a route or to practice a trade or craft diligently. Often describes the repetitive movement of vessels or the persistent offering of goods or services.
Examples
“Small boats ply the river throughout the summer.”
“The ferry continues to ply the waters between the two islands, providing a vital link for the local community.”
“Street vendors often ply their trade in the busy square, calling out to tourists and locals alike as they navigate the crowded walkways during the peak of the afternoon rush.”
Examples
simple
“Small boats ply the river throughout the summer.”
contextual
“The ferry continues to ply the waters between the two islands, providing a vital link for the local community.”
complex
“Street vendors often ply their trade in the busy square, calling out to tourists and locals alike as they navigate the crowded walkways during the peak of the afternoon rush.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object such as 'a route', 'the waters', or 'a trade'.
Real-World Examples
“The archipelago nation of 116 million has a long history of disasters involving the inter-island ferries that ply its seas.” “Since the US version started in 2009, it has brought tons of performers to national, or even global, attention who would otherwise still be plying their trade in provincial gay bars.” Etymology
From Middle English pleit, plit, plite (“a fold, pleat, wrinkle; braid, strand in a braided cord, ply”), from Anglo-Norman pli, plei, pleit, and Middle French pli, ploy, ply (“a fold, pleat; joint in armour; situation, state”) (modern French pli (“a fold, pleat”)), from plier, ployer (“to bend, fold”), from plicāre (“to bend, fold, roll up”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- (“to fold, plait, weave”).
From Middle English plīen, pli, plie (“to bend, fold, mould, shape; to be flexible; to be submissive, humble oneself; to compel someone to submit”), from Anglo-Norman plier, plaier, pleier, ploier, and Middle French plier, ployer (“to bend, fold; to be submissive; to compel someone to submit”) (modern French plier, ployer), from Old French ploiier, pleier (“to fold”), from Latin plicāre (“to fold”); see further at etymology 1. The word is cognate with Catalan plegar (“to bend, fold”), Italian piegare (“to bend, fold, fold up”), Old Occitan plegar, plejar, pleyar (“to fold”) (modern Occitan plegar), Spanish plegar (“to fold”).
From apply; compare Middle English plīen, pli, plie, pleie (“to place (something) around, on, or over, to cover; to apply, use; to strive”), short for aplīen, applīen (“to combine, join; to attach; to assemble; to use, be of use; to allot; to apply; to inflict; to go; to ply, steer; to comply, submit”), from Old French applier, aplier, aploier (“to bend; to apply”), from Latin applicāre, present active infinitive of applicō (“to apply; to attach, join; to add”), from ad- (“to, towards”) + plicō (“to bend, fold, roll up”); see further at etymology 1.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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