1 to walk through water
[no object]
- We waded into the ocean.
- I jumped off the boat and waded back to shore.
- They took off their sandals and waded at the edge of the pond.
[+ object]
- They waded the river. [=they crossed the river by walking through the water]
2 a : to move or proceed with difficulty
[no object]
- Police waded into the crowd.
- We waded through the crowded bus station.
- It took several weeks to wade through all the evidence.
[+ object]
- We waded our way through the crowd.
2 b [no object] : to become involved in a discussion, situation, activity, etc., in a forceful, direct, or careless way — usually + in or into
- Most politicians would have tried to avoid the subject, but he waded right in.
- She waded right into their argument.