dodge

verb

dodged; dodging

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move to and fro or from place to place usually in an irregular course

dodged through the crowd

b

: to make a sudden movement in a new direction (as to evade a blow)

dodged behind the door

2

: to evade a responsibility or duty especially by trickery or deceit

transitive verb

1

a

: to evade by a sudden or repeated shift of position

dodge tacklers

b

: to avoid an encounter with

celebrities dodging the media

2

: to evade (something, such as a duty) usually indirectly or by trickery

dodged the draft by leaving the country

dodged questions

see also:

dodge a bullet

Synonyms of dodge

• weave
• duck

Examples of dodge in a Sentence

He dodged the first punch but was hit by the second.

She dodged through the crowds as she hurried home.

We dodged between the cars as we raced across the street.

They managed to dodge the reporters by leaving through the back exit.

She accused him of dodging his responsibilities as a parent.

Recent Examples on the Web

An officer had to dodge the vehicle to avoid being struck, according to the district attorney’s statement. —Seamus Bozeman follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Go in May to dodge midges and summer crowds. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026

While the black demon pursued me, the boys dodged back and grabbed the nest. —Byron W. Dalrymple, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026

Liu, with his prior martial arts training, performs a backflip on command to dodge oncoming fire blasts (to be inserted in post). —Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing dodge

• dodge a bullet
• dodge the bullet
• dodge the draft

Rhymes for dodge

• auge
• hodge
• podge
• dislodge
• hodgepodge
• fuselage

Kids Definition

dodge

1 of 2 noun

ˈdäj 

1

: an act of avoiding by sudden bodily movement

2

: a sly means of avoiding, deceiving, or tricking

just another dodge to get out of working

dodger noun

dodge

2 of 2 verb

dodged; dodging

1

a

: to move suddenly aside or to and fro

dodging through the crowd

b

: to avoid by moving quickly aside

dodge a blow

2

: evade sense 1

dodged the question