Library / English Dictionary

NUDGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A slight push or shake

Synonyms:

jog; nudge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("nudge" is a kind of...):

push; pushing (the act of applying force in order to move something away)

Derivation:

nudge (to push against gently)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Push into action by pestering or annoying gently

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "nudge" is one way to...):

bear on; push (press, drive, or impel (someone) to action or completion of an action)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They nudge him to write the letter

Derivation:

nudger (someone who nudges; someone who gives a gentle push)

Sense 2

Meaning:

To push against gently

Example:

She nudged my elbow when she saw her friend enter the restaurant

Synonyms:

nudge; poke at; prod

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "nudge" is one way to...):

force; push (move with force)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "nudge"):

jog (give a slight push to)

elbow (shove one's elbow into another person's ribs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

nudge (a slight push or shake)

nudger (someone who nudges; someone who gives a gentle push)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The first appearance of bright green leaves heralds the start of spring, nudging insects, birds and other animals into a whirlwind of action.

(Urbanization delays spring plant growth in warm regions, National Science Foundation)

Unlike Skeet, who was wont to shove her nose under Thornton’s hand and nudge and nudge till petted, or Nig, who would stalk up and rest his great head on Thornton’s knee, Buck was content to adore at a distance.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

"And how much for one that's all chewed up like this one?" Scott asked, nudging White Fang with his foot.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

This extremely artful suggestion Mr. Barkis accompanied with a nudge of his elbow that gave me quite a stitch in my side.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Well, gov’nor, to cut it short, they began to talk about the fight, and they all laughed at the idea that young Jim ’Arrison could win it—all except Chris, and e’ kept a-nudging and a-twitchin’ at the others until Joe Berks nearly gave him a wipe across the face for ’is trouble.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And when the first servant came with a dish of delicate fare, the peasant nudged his wife, and said: “Grete, that was the first,” meaning that was the servant who brought the first dish.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The English played well, but the Americans played better, and contested every inch of the ground as strongly as if the spirit of '76 inspired them. Jo and Fred had several skirmishes and once narrowly escaped high words. Jo was through the last wicket and had missed the stroke, which failure ruffled her a good deal. Fred was close behind her and his turn came before hers. He gave a stroke, his ball hit the wicket, and stopped an inch on the wrong side. No one was very near, and running up to examine, he gave it a sly nudge with his toe, which put it just an inch on the right side.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

And here, confined, hidden from view all except his ears, no longer growling, he continued to nudge and snuggle.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Mr. Peggotty (who never shut his mouth once, I remember, during the visit) showed great concern when he saw me do this, and nudged Ham to say something.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

In his insistent crawling toward the light, he discovered in her a nose that with a sharp nudge administered rebuke, and later, a paw, that crushed him down and rolled him over and over with swift, calculating stroke.

(White Fang, by Jack London)