nudge

¹ American  

[nuhj] / nʌdʒ /

verb (used with object)

nudged, nudging

1. to push slightly or gently, especially with the elbow, to get someone's attention, prod someone into action, etc.

   Synonyms:

   jog, poke, elbow

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verb (used without object)

nudged, nudging

1. to give a nudge.

noun

1. a slight or gentle push or jog, especially with the elbow.

nudge ² American  

[nooj] / nʊdʒ /

Or noodge,

verb (used with object)

nudged, nudging

1. to annoy with persistent complaints, criticisms, or pleas; nag.

   He was always nudging his son to move to a better neighborhood.

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verb (used without object)

nudged, nudging

1. to nag, whine, or carp.

noun

1. a person who nudges; pest.

nudge British  

/ nʌdʒ /

verb

1. to push or poke (someone) gently, esp with the elbow, to get attention; jog

2. to push slowly or lightly

   as I drove out, I just nudged the gatepost

3. to give (someone) a gentle reminder or encouragement

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noun

1. a gentle poke or push

2. 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; cf. nudnik

Explanation

Sometimes you just need a little nudge or slight push to get your day going. It might be a coffee, or your favorite song, or your mom stripping the covers and standing over your bed. Take your pick. Some people believe the word nudge comes from the Norwegian dialect nugga meaning "to push, rub." This makes sense, since a nudge is a push of sorts. But it's more of a gentle push. Think of nudging coals around in a fire or a crowd of people nudging to the stage at a concert. When you gently annoy your husband so he'll mow the lawn, you're nudging him along.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nudge nudged nudging

Every time Claude got stuck, Sumner gave it a nudge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Last year, Kate Spade overhauled its approach to what it now calls the “selling ceremony,” an experience between in-store shoppers and the sales associates who can nudge them into making a purchase.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

So while Trafford will hope his possible high-profile move will help him add to his two England caps, he has work to do to nudge Pickford aside as England's first-choice goalkeeper.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Nasdaq futures nudge up 0.05% after the index notched its worst day in a month Thursday, falling to levels last seen in early May.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

She reached over to nudge Chicken, but her elbow met empty space.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

She nudged the anxious calf to her side and they trotted briskly away.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

The company’s second-quarter results on Tuesday broadly topped Wall Street’s estimates, and management nudged its financial outlook higher for the year.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.7% amid relatively muted trade for the index’s dominant chip makers, with SK Hynix closing 0.3% lower while Samsung Electronics nudged 0.6% higher.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Finally, she stepped closer to her husband and gently nudged him aside.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

The rising sun nudged above the horizon and colored the eastern sky, flooding the Garrett farm with light, which shone on Booth’s face.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Australia's Suncorp Super Netball is where the top money is for now and, while salaries are veiled in secrecy, the cream of the crop there are reputedly nudging close to the six-figure mark.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

She watched intently perched on a bench at the very front of the room, at times shrieking and nudging her sister as she pointed at the cafe’s new large flat-screen that loomed overhead.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

Adam removed the roots and tree at the arborist’s nudging, and yet even that responsible act did not appease his neighbor.

From MarketWatch ● May 28, 2026

—European indexes were largely higher at the open, with the Europe-wide Stoxx 600 nudging up 0.1% after sliding sharply Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026

I must have fallen asleep because, next thing I know, Hannie is nudging us and telling us to get ready.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler