dodge
verb (used with object)
to elude or evade by a sudden shift of position or by strategy.
dodge
1 American
[doj]
/ dɒdʒ /
verb (used with object)
-
dodges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dodged,
past participle, past
-
dodging
present participle
-
to elude or evade by a sudden shift of position or by strategy.
to dodge a blow; to dodge a question.
- Synonyms:
- avoid
-
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
-
to move aside or change position suddenly, as to avoid a blow or get behind something.
-
to use evasive methods; prevaricate.
When asked a direct question, he dodges.
- Synonyms:
- quibble, equivocate
noun
-
dodges
plural
-
a quick, evasive movement, as a sudden jump away to avoid a blow or the like.
-
an ingenious expedient or contrivance; shifty trick.
-
Slang. a business, profession, or occupation.
Dodge
2
American
[doj]
/ dɒdʒ /
noun
dodge
British
/ dɒdʒ /
verb
-
to avoid or attempt to avoid (a blow, discovery, etc), as by moving suddenly
-
to evade (questions, etc) by cleverness or trickery
-
(intr) Leisure:Bell-ringing to make a bell change places with its neighbour when sounding in successive changes
-
(tr) photog to lighten or darken (selected areas on a print) by manipulating the light from an enlarger
noun
-
a plan or expedient contrived to deceive
-
a sudden evasive or hiding movement
-
a clever contrivance
-
Leisure:Bell-ringing the act of dodging
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dodgesimple
-
dodgessimple
-
have dodgedperfect
-
has dodgedperfect
-
am dodgingprogressive
-
are dodgingprogressive
-
is dodgingprogressive
-
have been dodgingperfect progressive
-
has been dodgingperfect progressive
Past
-
dodgedsimple
-
had dodgedperfect
-
was dodgingprogressive
-
were dodgingprogressive
-
had been dodgingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing dodge
"LAFFF"
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Things Not Seen
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Unknown Origins
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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.
See Examples For:
"Dear protesters, since you're being filmed without your consent, try using make-up to dodge surveillance/facial recognition cameras," she said on social media.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
The attorney for the woman accusing Byron Scott of sexual assault says the former Laker’s bankruptcy filing is a “pathetic and cowardly” attempt to dodge his civil trial.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
A centralised crackdown on illegal number plates will target organised crime groups and drivers who dodge fines by bringing together data and information from police forces across England, the government has said.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
As U.S. stocks head into September, a key trading level suggests the S&P 500 could dodge a big loss in what is historically a turbulent month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
I’d just have to dodge the English guy...who maybe is Guillermo’s son...a love child he didn’t know about until recently, who grew up in England.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Jeramy seemed to have a motive: A couple of weeks before the break-in, Roebuck had repossessed a Dodge Dakota pickup truck he’d sold to Jeramy after his nephew fell behind on payments.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
According to the CHP, Maddalyn’s Acura was struck by a yellow Chevrolet Camaro and a black Dodge Charger that sped into the intersection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
The mechanic would often help repair the show’s signature vehicle, an orange 1969 Dodge Charger known as General Lee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The Chevrolet Camaro was discontinued in 2023, and the Dodge Charger and Challenger disappeared from the market for decades before their 2000s revival.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Forming a double line that led to the Dodge sedan, they hurried us and our baggage into the car while they stood guard.
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
Hatcher — a Pomo shape-shifter who dodges prejudice by passing as Mexican in the novel — is a thorny protagonist, often cunning, scheming and unforgiving.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
He artfully dodges, however, two of the most important issues: energy and immigration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
A further risk for Ms. Spanberger is that her dodges contribute to a wider perception that she lacks candor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025
Anyone who dodges paying tax faces a higher interest rate when paying it back.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2024
When Albert looks up from the stove, he startles but only says, “Hello,” and “Watch your head,” and waves his cooking spoon as the giant dodges the light fixture.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Sitting behind the wheel, on our way to the town of Hólmavík, I carefully dodged stubborn sheep who roamed the roads.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
He noted that unemployment remains low, argued that the economy remains strong, and dodged questions about whether he plans to speak with Trump.
From Slate ● Sep. 16, 2026
Stalter dodged questions about what inspired the look, telling reporters that she and her stylist just threw it together and that her co-star Paul W Downs airbrushed her himself.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
When asked to comment on situation by local media, he dodged the question.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
While we like to think of Washington as the champion of liberty and the honest little boy of the cherry tree legend who couldn’t tell a lie, the president deliberately dodged the law in Philadelphia.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Car radios were still uncommon, but one afternoon, the airborne commander spent 20 minutes chewing out a Sunday driver he saw weaving and dodging through a traffic jam in Queens.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
In the 20-minute gameplay sequence, Lara Croft -- still in her famous blue top and brown shorts -- explores an abandoned tomb in Greece, battling panthers and dodging giant swords falling from the ceiling.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Evercore analysts said the move will also allow SpaceX to put data centers into orbit, potentially dodging the growing backlash in the U.S. against artificial-intelligence cloud operators.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
The Strictly stars were joined by five other pairs of celebrities as they spent two weeks dodging expert hunters.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
He tore through the thick forest, dodging trees and stumbling over rocks.
From I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis
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