Plug — Meaning, Definition & Examples

Definition

1. An object with metal pins for connecting electrical equipment to a power supply.
2. Something used to block a hole.
3. A way of advertising something publicly.
4. To block or fill a hole or gap.
5. To advertise something by praising it.
6. To connect electrical equipment to power.

Context Alive

The hotel room looked perfect until she tried to charge her phone. The plug didn’t fit the socket because the country used a completely different type. She had to run to the nearest shop and buy an adapter before her battery died completely.

Meanings

6 meanings

1 An Electrical Connector (Noun) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about the plastic or rubber object at the end of a cable with metal pins that you push into a wall socket to get electricity. Imagine buying a new lamp, taking it out of the box, and looking at the plug at the end of the cord to check if it fits your sockets. Without the plug, there’s no way to connect the lamp to power. This is the part that physically links your device to electricity. You might say “the plug on my charger is broken” or someone could ask “is there a plug socket near the desk?” Or think about travelling abroad and realising your plug doesn’t fit because every country has a different shape. The word points to that essential little connector we use dozens of times a day. ✏️ In British English, “plug” also means the wall socket itself — so “is there a plug in the bedroom?” means “is there a socket I can use?”

Vivid Example

She was about to leave for the airport when she noticed the charger on the floor. The plug had been bent from being stepped on so many times. She quickly grabbed a spare one from the drawer and threw it in her bag just in time.

2 Something Used to Block a Hole (Noun) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about an object you push into a hole to stop water or air from getting through. Imagine running a hot bath after a long day — the first thing you do is push the plug into the drain so the water doesn’t escape. Without it, the tub would never fill up. This is something that seals an opening. You might say “put the plug in the sink before you fill it” or someone could notice “the bath plug is missing again.” Or think about a rubber plug pushed into a barrel to stop liquid from leaking out. The word suggests something that fits tightly into an opening to keep things sealed. ✏️ The most common everyday use is the bath plug or sink plug — the small rubber or metal disc that blocks the drain.

Vivid Example

The kids wanted to fill the kitchen sink with soapy water to wash their toy cars. They searched everywhere but couldn’t find the plug for the drain. In the end, they stuffed a cloth into the hole and it worked just well enough.

3 A Way of Advertising Something Publicly (Noun) Common ▼

This meaning is about mentioning or praising something — usually a book, film, or product — in public to get people interested in it. Imagine a famous actor appearing on a late-night talk show. They chat and laugh, but halfway through, the actor gives a plug for their new movie, talking about how exciting it is and when it opens. This is a casual but intentional promotion. You might hear “he got in a quick plug for his restaurant during the interview” or “the podcast host gave a plug for the sponsor’s product.” Or think about a friend who always finds a way to slip in a plug for their business whenever you’re talking. The word suggests a casual, conversational kind of advertising. ✏️ “Get in a plug for” and “give a plug to” are the most natural combinations — they sound friendly rather than pushy.

Vivid Example

The author was invited onto a morning TV show to talk about healthy eating. She answered every question cheerfully but made sure to slip in a plug for her new cookbook at the end. The host smiled and held up the book so viewers could see the cover.

4 To Block or Fill a Hole or Gap (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about filling or sealing a hole to stop something from getting through — or fixing a gap in something like a plan or system. Imagine water dripping through a crack in your ceiling during a storm. You grab some towels and try to plug the hole until a professional can fix it properly. This is stopping a leak or closing a gap. You might say “we need to plug the gap in our budget” or a news report could mention “workers plugged the leak in the pipeline overnight.” Or think about a football manager who buys a new defender to plug the weakness at the back. The word suggests quick, practical action to stop something from escaping or failing. ✏️ The figurative use is extremely common — “plug a gap” and “plug a hole” are used constantly in business, finance, and everyday conversation.

Vivid Example

The boat started taking on water through a small crack near the bottom. The captain grabbed a piece of cloth and quickly plugged the hole to slow the flooding. It wasn’t a permanent fix, but it gave them enough time to reach the shore safely.

5 To Advertise Something by Praising It (Verb) Common ▼

This meaning is about publicly talking up a product, book, film, or event to get people interested. Imagine a musician appearing on a radio show and spending half the interview plugging their upcoming tour — mentioning dates, cities, and where to buy tickets. They’re promoting it in a conversational way. This is plugging — mixing promotion into a normal conversation. You might hear “she was on the show plugging her new album” or a friend could say “stop plugging your business every time we meet!” Or think about social media influencers who plug products in their videos while pretending to just share their daily routine. The word suggests promoting something enthusiastically, sometimes a bit too obviously. ✏️ Plugging feels more casual and conversational than “advertising” — it’s the kind of promotion you do in interviews, podcasts, and social media.

Vivid Example

Every time the comedian appeared on a podcast, he found a way to mention his upcoming show. He was clearly plugging the tour with every joke and story he told. The host didn’t mind though, because the conversation was genuinely entertaining.

6 To Connect Electrical Equipment to Power — Plug In (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about physically connecting a device to an electricity supply by pushing its plug into a socket. Imagine arriving at a café with your laptop almost dead. You find a seat near the wall, pull out your charger, and plug it in — instantly the battery icon starts charging. This is the action of connecting something to power. You might say “just plug in the TV and it should work” or someone could ask “can I plug my phone in somewhere?” Or think about setting up a new printer — all you have to do is plug it into your computer and follow the instructions. The word suggests a simple, quick connection. ✏️ “Pull the plug” is a very important idiom — it means to stop supporting something (“they pulled the plug on the project”) or to turn off life support in hospitals.

Vivid Example

The new speakers arrived and he couldn’t wait to try them out. He plugged them into his laptop and hit play on his favourite playlist. The sound quality was so much better that he sat there grinning for a full five minutes.

Examples from the Street

“Can I give my new podcast a quick plug?”

Can I briefly promote my new audio show to this audience?

“Just plug it in and it should start working straight away.”

Simply connect it to the power source and it should begin functioning immediately

“She plugged away at her dissertation for three solid years.”

She kept working steadily and persistently on her long academic paper for three full years

Common Patterns

plug something in → connect a device to a power source or system

plug something into (a socket/port/system) → insert a connector into a specific outlet or interface

unplug something → disconnect a device from a power source

plug in your phone/laptop/charger → connect your device to charge or use it

plugged in → connected to power; also figuratively means informed, engaged, or connected

give something a plug → publicly promote or mention something to help it get attention

a shameless plug → an openly self-serving promotion, often said with humorous self-awareness

plug a product/book/show → promote something publicly, especially during an interview or appearance

plug something on (social media/TV/a podcast) → promote something through a specific platform

plug a gap/hole → fill a gap or solve a shortage, often temporarily

plug a leak → stop information or liquid from escaping

plug the drain on (resources/money) → stop the wasteful loss of something valuable

a plug and socket → the connector and outlet for electrical devices

a bath/sink plug → a stopper that blocks the drain to hold water

pull the plug (on something) → cancel or stop something, often suddenly

a spark plug → a component in a car engine that ignites fuel

Collocations

3 collocations

plug the gap

fill in what's missing

pull the plug

stop something from continuing

shameless plug

openly promoting something of your own

Example Sentences

12 examples

1

Plug the laptop in — the battery’s about to die

Connect the computer to the power source — it’s almost out of charge.

2

She went on the morning show to plug her new book and ended up talking for twenty minutes

She appeared on the early television programme to promote her latest publication and the conversation ran far longer than expected.

3

We need to hire two more people to plug the gap left by the staff who resigned

We need to recruit a couple of additional employees to fill the shortage created by the workers who quit.

4

Sorry for the shameless plug, but my friend just opened an amazing bakery on the high street — you should check it out

Apologies for the openly self-serving promotion, but someone I know has just launched a fantastic cake shop on the main road — it’s worth a visit.

5

The government pulled the plug on the project after costs spiralled out of control

The authorities suddenly cancelled the entire initiative after spending went far beyond what was planned.

6

Make sure you unplug the iron before you leave the house — I always worry about it

Be sure to disconnect the clothes-pressing device from the electricity before going out — it’s something I constantly stress about.

7

She’s incredibly plugged in to the tech world — she always knows what’s happening before anyone else

She’s extremely well-connected and informed about the technology industry — she’s always the first to hear about new developments.

8

The company is trying to plug the leak after confidential documents appeared in the press

The business is attempting to stop secret files from continuing to reach journalists after private papers were published.

9

He spent the whole interview plugging his new restaurant instead of answering the actual questions

He used the entire conversation to promote his new eating establishment rather than responding to what was being asked.

10

They plugged the numbers into the spreadsheet and immediately spotted the error

They entered the figures into the digital table and noticed the mistake straight away.

Learner Examples

★

Teachers who are plugged in to current trends in their students’ lives find it much easier to create engaging lesson materials

Instructors who stay well-connected to what’s happening in their learners’ everyday world have a much simpler time producing class resources that hold attention.

★

Using music and podcasts in English is a great way to plug the gap between classroom learning and real-world listening skills

Listening to songs and audio programmes in the language is an excellent method for filling the space between what you practise in lessons and what you need to understand in actual daily life.

Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

4 items

Phrasal Verbs

plug in — connect to a power source

Just plug in the charger and wait for the green light.

plug away — work hard and steadily

He's been plugging away at his novel for over a year.

plug up — block a hole or gap

We need to plug up the hole in the roof before winter.

Idioms & Expressions

pull the plug — stop or cancel something

The studio pulled the plug on the show after two seasons.

Synonyms & Antonyms

6 items

Synonyms

promote

verb, advertise something

block

verb, fill a hole

connector

noun, electrical device

stopper

noun, thing that blocks

Antonyms

unplug

disconnect

open

remove a block