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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.

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 ).

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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

• dodges
  plural

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.

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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

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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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outdodge
  verb (used with object)
• undodged
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• dodges
  plural

Participles

• dodging
  present
• dodged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• dodge
  simple
• dodges
  simple
• have dodged
  perfect
• has dodged
  perfect
• am dodging
  progressive
• are dodging
  progressive
• is dodging
  progressive
• have been dodging
  perfect progressive
• has been dodging
  perfect progressive

Past

• dodged
  simple
• had dodged
  perfect
• was dodging
  progressive
• were dodging
  progressive
• had been dodging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will dodge
  simple
• will have dodged
  perfect
• will be dodging
  progressive
• will have been dodging
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dodge Dodge dodges dodged dodging

Song's supervisor at the social service centre was also given a suspended jail sentence for helping him dodge his duties, including falsifying records to make it look like Song had reported to work.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

To dodge detention or worse, she went into hiding for nearly 16 months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

The drama has come as a surprise to some who know Walter, who has earned respect for his financial acumen and, despite his purchases of high-profile sports teams, has tended to dodge publicity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026

In the past, Meta has managed to dodge court-ordered spinoffs of Instagram and WhatsApp, but the company’s core business remains under a legal microscope.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

There was no threat to contend with, no weapon to dodge.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

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

Overall deliveries in the second quarter rose 10%, driven by North America as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Ram 1500, Dodge Durango and Chrysler Pacifica all saw strong sales gains.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

“If it’s not wood,” Dodge said, “then why do they call it wood?”

From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie

He artfully dodges, however, two of the most important issues: energy and immigration.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

Thankfully, Lynn Cullen’s novel about Marilyn, “When We Were Brilliant,” dodges all these myriad bullets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 20, 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

In the clip, Mace repeatedly dodges a question about upcoming town halls and asks when the man she's speaking to will stop "harassing" her.

From Salon ● Apr. 20, 2025

I make another grab for Julia’s arm, but she dodges it.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

Hilton, who as you say, Gustavo, is full of British bluster, is at least pushing answers out of Becerra, who has in fact dodged press for weeks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 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

The morning session had been washed out and only 24.5 overs of play were possible as the players dodged the showers, meaning spectators will receive a 50% refund on the price of their ticket.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

Meta dodged the “worst-case whispers” of much steeper financial penalties and algorithm changes, he added.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Spurge and Werfel tripped and dodged through the terrified crowd.

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin

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

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 denied intentionally dodging taxes or breaking the law, testifying that he disliked handling tax and other financial matters, so he relied on office managers and accountants.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

He was no older than twelve, and his scraped knees, tattered shoes, and windblown hair spoke of a life spent dodging wagons.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• ditch
• duck
• elude
• escape
• evade
• fend off
• shuffle
• sidestep
• skirt