drag

noun

UK /dræɡ/

Word Forms

singular	drag
plural	drags

1
singular informalsomething or someone that is boring or causes small annoying problems
Work is a real drag at the moment.
I’m sorry to be a drag, but could you check this again?
It’s such a drag having to get two buses to school.
Synonyms and related words
Something that is annoying
annoyance
irritation
irritant
2
singular something that makes something else develop or progress more slowly
drag on:
High interest rates are a drag on the housing market.
Synonyms and related words
Things that make things difficult
problem
obstacle
complication
3
uncountable women’s clothes worn by a man or men’s clothes worn by a woman, usually as part of an entertainment
a drag artiste/act/show
in drag:
They went out in drag to raise money for charity.
Synonyms and related words
Types of clothes and shoes
accessory
a change of clothes/socks/underwear etc
array
4
countable an act of breathing in smoke from a cigarette
He took a quick drag on his cigarette then spoke.
Synonyms and related words
Smoking and not smoking
ashtray
cessation
chain-smoke
5
uncountable physicsthe force that slows something down when it moves through air or liquid
Synonyms and related words
Physical forces and processes
absorbance
air resistance
amplitude

drag

noun

US /dræɡ/

Word Forms

singular	drag
plural	drags

1
singular informalsomething or someone that is boring or causes small annoying problems
Work is a real drag at the moment.
I’m sorry to be a drag, but could you check this again?
It’s such a drag having to take the bus to school.
Synonyms and related words
Something that is annoying
joke
pest
irritation
2
uncountable women’s clothes worn by a man or men’s clothes worn by a woman, usually as part of an entertainment
a drag artist/act/show
in drag:
They went out in drag to raise money for charity.
Synonyms and related words
Types of clothes and shoes
accessory
a change of clothes/socks/underwear etc.
array
3
countable an act of breathing in smoke from a cigarette
He took a quick drag on his cigarette then spoke.
Synonyms and related words
Smoking and not smoking
ashtray
cessation
chain-smoke
4
singular something that makes something else develop or progress more slowly
drag on:
High interest rates are a drag on the housing market.
Synonyms and related words
Things that make things difficult
problem
obstacle
complication
5
uncountable physicsthe force that slows something down when it moves through air or liquid
Synonyms and related words
Physical forces and processes
absorbance
air resistance
amplitude

drag

verb

UK /dræɡ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	drag
he/she/it	drags
present participle	dragging
past tense	dragged
past participle	dragged

1
transitive to pull something or someone along with difficulty, for example because they are heavy
drag something down/along/through something:
She dragged her suitcase down the path.
drag something/someone to/into/onto something:
He jumped into the river and dragged her to safety.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
1. 1a
  to pull part of your body along the ground because you are injured
  The bird walked slowly, dragging one wing along.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move something by pulling
  drag
  heave
  tear at
2. 1b
  to pull something somewhere strongly or quickly
  I scarcely had time to drag a comb through my hair.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move something by pulling
  drag
  heave
  tear at
2
transitive to pull someone strongly or violently when they do not want to go with you
drag someone along/to/into something:
Xavier grabbed his arm and dragged him over to the window.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
3
transitive to make someone leave or go to a place when they do not want to
drag someone out of/away from/off something:
I’m sorry to call so early – I hope I didn’t drag you out of bed.
You drag me away from my meeting just to tell me this!
drag yourself away/up/down etc:
If you can manage to drag yourself away from the TV you can help.
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere with someone or something
come
drive
walk
4
intransitive if something drags on the ground, it touches the ground when someone or something is moving along, for example because it is too long or too heavy
drag along/in/on:
I heard a chain dragging along the ground.
Synonyms and related words
To hang, or to hang down
hang
hang out
dangle
5
intransitive if time drags, it seems to pass very slowly, usually because you are bored
The first hour of the film really dragged.
Synonyms and related words
To happen, or to pass by slowly
crawl
drag by
creep up on
6
transitive computingto move something across a computer screen using the mouse
Drag the file into a folder.
Synonyms and related words
To use a computer keyboard, mouse or screen
backspace
click
click
7
transitive to try to find something in an area of water by pulling a net along the bottom of it
Police are dragging the river near where he was last seen.
Synonyms and related words
To search for something or someone
go through
look out for
seek out

phrases

drag your feet/heels

drag someone/something into the 21st century/the modern world

drag someone kicking and screaming

drag someone/someone’s name through the mud

drag someone through the courts

phrasal verbs

drag by

drag down

drag in

drag into

drag on

drag out

drag out of

drag up

drag

verb

US /dræɡ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	drag
he/she/it	drags
present participle	dragging
past tense	dragged
past participle	dragged

1
transitive to pull something or someone along with difficulty, for example because they are heavy
drag something down/along/through something:
She dragged her suitcase to the car.
drag something/someone to/into/onto something:
He jumped into the river and dragged her to safety.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
1. 1a
  to pull part of your body along the ground because you are injured
  The bird walked slowly, dragging one wing along.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move something by pulling
  drag
  heave
  tear at
2. 1b
  to pull something somewhere strongly or quickly
  I scarcely had time to drag a comb through my hair.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move something by pulling
  drag
  heave
  tear at
2
transitive to pull someone strongly or violently when they do not want to go with you
drag someone along/to/into something:
Xavier grabbed his arm and dragged him over to the window.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
3
transitive to make someone leave or go to a place when they do not want to
drag someone out of/away from/off something:
I’m sorry to call so early, I hope I didn’t drag you out of bed.
You drag me away from my meeting just to tell me this!
drag yourself away/up/down etc.:
If you can manage to drag yourself away from the TV you can help.
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere with someone or something
come
drive
walk
4
intransitive if something drags on the ground, it touches the ground when someone or something is moving along, for example because it is too long or too heavy
drag along/in/on:
I heard a chain dragging along the ground.
Synonyms and related words
To hang, or to hang down
hang
hang out
dangle
5
intransitive if time drags, it seems to pass very slowly, usually because you are bored
The first hour of the movie really dragged.
Synonyms and related words
To happen, or to pass by slowly
crawl
drag by
creep up on
6
transitive computingto move something across a computer screen using the mouse
Drag the file into a folder.
Synonyms and related words
To use a computer keyboard, mouse or screen
backspace
click
click
7
transitive to try to find something in an area of water by pulling a net along the bottom of it
The police are dragging the river near where he was last seen.
Synonyms and related words
To search for something or someone
go through
look out for
seek out

phrases

drag your feet/heels

drag someone/something into the 21st century/the modern world

drag someone kicking and screaming

drag someone/someone’s name through the mud

drag someone through the courts

phrasal verbs

drag by

drag down

drag in

drag into

drag on

drag out

drag out of

drag up

drag ​‌

drag ​‌

drag ​‌‌

drag ​‌‌

drag

drag

drag

drag