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

---

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.

---

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

---

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

It’s concerning how much data these agents need—and nudge you to share—to be truly helpful.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

Gates also said we should consider taxing AI tokens and robots, which could nudge businesses toward hiring people instead of betting on more machines.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Yet Schoenbrun’s observations are presented in the film as though they’re opaque, overloaded with smug surrealism and jam-packed with visual stimuli designed to wink and nudge at the otherwise obvious.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Schmidt said Instagram has introduced tools to help protect children and nudge them into more measured use.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

But then Emma reached down and squeezed his hand twice, before giving him a nudge in the side as she looked up at Natalie with narrowed eyes.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Including receipts from petroleum, oilseed and grain merchants, wholesale sales for August fell 1% from the month before, while inventories on the same basis nudged up 0.2%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Gold prices nudged up following the Federal Reserve’s September meeting minutes, which showed minimal urgency for an October rate hike.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Previously, a customer buying a belt buckle was nudged toward a matching belt or hat, items that closely related to the original purchase, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Brent crude contracts rose by 0.5% but held just below $100 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate contracts nudged back above $90 a barrel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Tamika nudged my shoulder with the glass of OJ.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

More than 30,000 tickets were sold for Old Trafford at Trinity's end, nudging the attendance past 71,000 for the sold-out showpiece that guaranteed a new name on the trophy for the second year running.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

It has a twangy guitar, stately woodwinds and a loping groove that makes you feel like you’re nudging a herd of cattle through a mountain pass on a cloudless day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

“If that’s right, it could mean Shingrix is nudging the whole trajectory of neuroinflammation in a healthier direction.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

This is an uncomplicated yarn about a man prying open his heart and nudging other hard nuts to do the same.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

He felt like someone was nudging him forward.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---