To wade means to walk through water (or another substance) that's not quite deep enough to swim in but still slows you down. When you wade into a stream, lake, or ocean, the water usually reaches somewhere between your ankles and your waist, and you can feel it pushing against your legs with each step.

People wade across creeks on hikes, wade into the ocean to cool off on hot days, or wade through flooded streets after heavy rain. The word captures that particular feeling of moving through something that resists you: water pulls at your legs, making each step require more effort than walking on dry ground.

The word also works metaphorically. When you wade through a thick book or a pile of homework, you're working your way through something that takes time and effort. A detective might wade through evidence to solve a case. If someone tells you they're going to “wade into” a complicated problem, they mean they're ready to dive in and start working on it, even though it won't be easy. Just as wading through actual water requires patience and steady progress, wading through challenges means taking them on step by step.