bulldoze
Americanverb (used with object)
-
bulldozes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bulldozed,
past participle, past
-
bulldozing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
bulldozes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bulldozed,
past participle, past
-
bulldozing
present participle
-
to use a bulldozer.
to clear this rubble away we may have to bulldoze.
-
to advance or force one's way in the manner of a bulldozer.
verb
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to move, demolish, flatten, etc, with a bulldozer
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informal to force; push
he bulldozed his way through the crowd
-
informal to intimidate or coerce
Usage
What does bulldoze mean? To bulldoze is to clear, level, or push debris away from an area using a bulldozer—a large tractor that has a big, blade-like shovel at the front and moves around using metal tracks over wheels. Sometimes, bulldoze can mean to clear an area in this way even if a bulldozer isn’t used. Bulldoze can also be used figuratively, meaning to move forward or advance in an aggressive or forceful way. This can be physical, as in He just bulldozed his way to the goal by pushing through three defenders, or through an aggressive attitude, as in Instead of cooperating with his colleagues, he just bulldozes his way through tasks until he gets what he wants. This sense of the word likens such behavior to the way that a bulldozer powerfully clears everything in its path. However, before its association with the construction vehicle, bulldoze originally meant to intimidate, such as with threats of violence. Early records of this use refer to violent attacks, especially whipping, against African Americans by white people in the Southern United States. However, the origin of these words, and how bulldozer came to be a name for a type of tractor, is ultimately unclear. The verb doze can be used as a short way of saying bulldoze, as in We need to doze this whole area or She dozes through every obstacle that’s put in her way.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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bulldozesimple
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bulldozessimple
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have bulldozedperfect
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has bulldozedperfect
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am bulldozingprogressive
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are bulldozingprogressive
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is bulldozingprogressive
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have been bulldozingperfect progressive
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has been bulldozingperfect progressive
Past
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bulldozedsimple
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had bulldozedperfect
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was bulldozingprogressive
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were bulldozingprogressive
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had been bulldozingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bulldoze
1875–80, origin uncertain; the notion that it represents a verb use of bull dose, i.e., a dose fit for a bull, is probably without merit; bulldoze defs. 1, 2, 4, 5 are back formations from bulldozer in the sense “tractor”
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:
The town’s slow work was getting the legal right to bulldoze capital that ownership had abandoned.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
"If the government decides, very quickly, to bulldoze the Statue of Liberty... nothing can be done?" the judge asked.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
He gets very enthusiastic about what if we look at that hypocrisy and just bulldoze over it.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
Or bulldoze it, removing what stands as nothing more than a symbol of felonious indifference.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2026
My father was later ordered by the steel company to bulldoze them out, but he never did.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
One reviewer called the film "a feature-length ad for Kerala tourism" that "gleefully bulldozes over all possibilities of any cultural nuance".
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2025
Antetokounmpo now bulldozes opponents and his strength is a core feature of his game.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 26, 2023
Vulnerable yet adamant, Philippa bulldozes bureaucrats and scientists into supporting her plan to excavate the parking lot where she believes the King is buried.
From New York Times ● Mar. 23, 2023
He bulldozes over the facts of this case and blows past photographic evidence.
From Slate ● Jun. 28, 2022
He bulldozes past me and covers the rest of the hood with suds.
From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na
The Zvernec villagers fear getting bulldozed once again.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Often these projects are approved with little to no input from community members, either because they flew under the radar or because companies bulldozed their way into building them anyway.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
With two magical allies — Faizah Malik, who is challenging Councilmember Traci Park, and Board of Education member Rocio Rivas — they saved homes from being bulldozed by corporate villains.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026
To the amazement of some, the crash site was bulldozed within days, which experts say destroyed potentially crucial evidence.
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026
Other parts we have to crawl at an excruciatingly slow pace, because of rocks bulldozed into five-foot berms, intentionally formed into a maze designed to direct the flow of water.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
From the outset, Ms. Hazoutte and Ms. Siman Tov have been opposed to bulldozing houses in Nir Oz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
While a ceasefire began on April 17, the destruction, demolitions and bulldozing in southern areas have only intensified, affecting homes, infrastructure, schools, places of worship and farmland.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
But he criticised Hegseth's "brashness, the bravado, the bulldozing of questions" in briefings.
From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2026
Fall River is one of those northern post-industrial cities that’s been futilely trying to reverse decline for decades, first by bulldozing historic neighborhoods to build highways, and now by constructing breweries and farmer’s markets.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2025
Miguel was waiting on the steps of the Lonogan house, work gloves in his lap, a little sheepdog frantically bulldozing his knee.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
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