wade

To walk through water or something else that makes walking difficult.

• We waded across the stream.
• Children wade in the shallow water.
• She waded through mud to reach the gate.

How to use it: wade through something (We had to wade through deep water.); wade across something (They waded across the river.); wade into something (He waded into the shallow pool.)

Common phrases: wade through water, wade across something, wade into something

To deal slowly with a large amount of difficult or boring material.

• I must wade through these reports.
• She waded through hundreds of emails.
• Have you waded through the whole contract?

How to use it: wade through something (I spent hours wading through old files.)

Similar words: plough through

Common phrases: wade through something, wade through paperwork

To enter a fight, argument, or difficult situation without much care or thought.

• He waded into the argument.
• She waded into the debate without knowing the facts.
• The boys waded into the fight.

How to use it: wade into something (He waded into the dispute and made it worse.)

Similar words: plunge into, jump into

Common phrases: wade into something, wade into battle

An occasion when you walk through water.

• We enjoyed a short wade in the stream.
• The wade across the river took ten minutes.
• Our cold wade left us shivering.

How to use it: a wade across something (A wade across the stream cooled our feet.)

Common phrases: a short wade, wade across something, wade through something