nudge

UK: /ˈnʌdʒ/ US: /nʌdʒ/ ,(nuj for 1; nŏŏj for 2)

Inflections of 'nudge' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

nudges

v 3rd person singular

nudging

v pres p

nudged

v past

nudged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

nudge¹ /nʌdʒ/   v., nudged, nudg•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to push slightly or gently, esp. with the elbow to get someone's attention.
2. to come close to reaching:
   The thermometer was nudging 80° F.

n. [countable]

3. a slight or gentle push esp. with the elbow.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

nudge¹  (nuj), v., nudged, nudg•ing, n. 
v.t. 

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

v.i. 

2. to give a nudge.

n. 

3. a slight or gentle push or jog, esp. with the elbow.

• variant of dialect, dialectal (k)nidge, akin to Old English cnucian, cnocian to knock 1665–75

nudg′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. elbow, poke, jog.

nudge²  (nŏŏj), v., nudged, nudg•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to annoy with persistent complaints, criticisms, or pleas;
   nag:
   He was always nudging his son to move to a better neighborhood.

v.i. 

2. to nag, whine, or carp.

n. 

3. a person who nudges;
   pest.

Also, noodge, nudzh. 

• Polish nudzić; compare nudnik
• Yiddish, stem of nudyen to bore
• 1875–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nudge / nʌdʒ/ verb (transitive)

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

Etymology: 17th Century: perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic nugga to push

ˈnudger noun