nudge

verb

ˈnəj How to pronounce nudge (audio)
nudged; nudging
Synonyms of nudge

transitive verb

1
: to touch or push gently
… nudged the cue ball with the tip of the cue.—Paul Theroux
especially : to seek the attention of by a push of the elbow
… nudged Ron in the ribs and pointed at Malfoy … —J. K. Rowling
2
: to prod lightly : urge into action
… have been nudged into starting their own ventures …—Janet Bamford
3
: approach
… its circulation is nudging the four million mark …—Bennett Cerf

intransitive verb

: to give a nudge
She nudged and jostled through the crowd.
nudge noun
nudger noun

Synonyms of nudge

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Examples of nudge in a Sentence

I nudged the plate closer to him. The guard nudged the prisoner forward. The dog nudged the ball with his nose. He nudged me and pointed to the deer. The salesman nudged her into testing out the car. Album sales are nudging the one million mark. The price of gold has nudged a little higher.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead of wiping firmware, an adversary nudges a setpoint, edits a protection parameter, distorts a sensor feed—or shows the operator a calm screen while the equipment tears itself apart. — Julian Durand, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Suddenly, listings could reach far beyond the local neighborhood, nudging open the door to what had long been a niche corner of second-hand shopping. — Zoey Goto, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026 Walls said the game situation — inning, positions of other runners and pitch count — plays a significant role in his decision to challenge, which helps to nudge this number upward. — Abby Disalvo, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 The instruments and rhythms dance with Lenae’s sinuous vocals, nudging her into odd pockets, uplifting her notes. — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nudge

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nudge was in 1675

Rhymes for nudge

See All Rhymes for nudge

Browse Nearby Words

nude tan
nudge
nudger
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nudge. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nudge

verb
ˈnəj How to pronounce nudge (audio)
nudged; nudging
: to touch or push gently
especially : to attract the attention of by a push of the elbow
nudge noun

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Nglish: Translation of nudge for Spanish Speakers

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