nudge
1 Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
to push or poke (someone) gently, esp with the elbow, to get attention; jog
-
to push slowly or lightly
as I drove out, I just nudged the gatepost
-
to give (someone) a gentle reminder or encouragement
noun
-
a gentle poke or push
-
a gentle reminder
Usage
Where does the word nudge come from? As our definitions show above, nudge is a verb meaning "to push slightly or gently, specifically with an elbow when doing so literally, in order to get someone's attention or to prod someone along." A nudge is also a noun, meaning "a slight or gentle push or jog, especially with the elbow."But as far as we’re concerned, the origin of the word nudge could certainly stand to budge, as it's often considered obscure.However, we suspect nudge, found by 1665–75, comes from a dialectical variation of knidge or nidge, related to the Old English cnucian or cnocian, meaning "to knock." Every now and again, maybe a stubborn word origin just needs a little ... nudge.Nudge isn’t alone: it finds lots of company in other English words that seem simple but whose origins are not. Discover more in our slideshow “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other Words That We Don’t Know Where They Came From."
Other Word Forms
- nudger noun
Etymology
Origin of nudge1
1665–75; variant of dial. ( k ) nidge, akin to Old English cnucian, cnocian to knock
Origin of nudge2
1875–80; < Yiddish, stem of nudyen to bore < Polish nudzić; nudnik
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But with a nudge from Rafsanjani, the kingmaker, he was picked by the Assembly of Experts as the new leader.
The Fed’s interest-rate tool kit works more on the demand side of the economy, by either spurring companies and consumers to spend or nudging them to pull back.
From MarketWatch
The Fed’s interest-rate tool works more on the demand side of the economy, by either spurring companies and consumers to spend or nudging them to pull back.
From MarketWatch
The business depends on packing a punch right away because the first five to 10 episodes are free, after which viewers are nudged to move to the app where they pay to watch further.
From BBC
Oil prices nudged up ahead of the talks, holding above $70 a barrel, while investors bought into U.S.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
