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  • dodge
    dodge
    verb (used with object)
    to elude or evade by a sudden shift of position or by strategy.
  • Dodge
    Dodge
    noun
    Mary Elizabeth, 1831–1905, U.S. editor and author of children's books.
Synonyms

dodge

1 American  
[doj] / dɒdʒ /

verb (used with object)

dodges, present (3rd person singular) dodged, past participle, past dodging present participle
  1. to elude or evade by a sudden shift of position or by strategy.

    to dodge a blow; to dodge a question.

    Synonyms:
    avoid
  2. Photography. Also hold back. (in printing) to shade (an area of a print) from exposure for a period, while exposing the remainder of the print in order to lighten or eliminate the area (sometimes followed byout ).


verb (used without object)

dodges, present (3rd person singular) dodged, past participle, past dodging present participle
  1. to move aside or change position suddenly, as to avoid a blow or get behind something.

  2. to use evasive methods; prevaricate.

    When asked a direct question, he dodges.

    Synonyms:
    quibble, equivocate

noun

  1. a quick, evasive movement, as a sudden jump away to avoid a blow or the like.

  2. an ingenious expedient or contrivance; shifty trick.

  3. Slang. a business, profession, or occupation.

Dodge 2 American  
[doj] / dɒdʒ /

noun

  1. Mary Elizabeth, 1831–1905, U.S. editor and author of children's books.


dodge British  
/ dɒdʒ /

verb

  1. to avoid or attempt to avoid (a blow, discovery, etc), as by moving suddenly

  2. to evade (questions, etc) by cleverness or trickery

  3. (intr) Leisure:Bell-ringing to make a bell change places with its neighbour when sounding in successive changes

  4. (tr) photog to lighten or darken (selected areas on a print) by manipulating the light from an enlarger

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a plan or expedient contrived to deceive

  2. a sudden evasive or hiding movement

  3. a clever contrivance

  4. Leisure:Bell-ringing the act of dodging

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of dodge

First recorded in 1560–70; of obscure origin

Explanation

To dodge something is to avoid it. In dodge ball, players dodge the balls being thrown at them. Dodging is making quick, sudden movements, usually to avoid something. You have to move quickly to dodge a flower pot that's falling from a ledge. In football, running backs are good at dodging defensive players. Politicians do a lot of maneuvers and manipulations to dodge blame, and plenty of people dodge responsibility for something they're supposed to take care of. So any kind of evasion strategy is a dodge.

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Vocabulary lists containing dodge

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.

Gibson might not know specs like RPMs or cylinders, but he said he appreciates the “Fast and Furious” characters’ gorgeous cars, including Dominic Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger and Brian O’Connor’s late ’90s Mitsubishi Eclipse.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Joel Dodge is the director of industrial policy & economic security at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

The group's brands also include Alfa Romeo, Opel, Maserati and Dodge trucks.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

He joined Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, one of the top film schools in the country, and dedicated himself to teaching budding screenwriters.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

So I needed to get to the key as quickly as possible, then get the hell out of Dodge.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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