nudged; nudging
1
: to touch or push gently
… nudged the cue ball with the tip of the cue.—
Paul Theroux
Paul Theroux
especially
: to seek the attention of by a push of the elbow
… nudged Ron in the ribs and pointed at Malfoy … —J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling 2
: to prod lightly : urge into action
… have been nudged into starting their own ventures …—Janet Bamford
Janet Bamford3
: approach
… its circulation is nudging the four million mark …—Bennett Cerf
Bennett Cerf
: to give a nudge
She nudged and jostled through the crowd.
nudge
noun
nudger
noun
Examples of nudge in a Sentence
I nudged the plate closer to him.
The guard nudged the prisoner forward.
The dog nudged the ball with his nose.
He nudged me and pointed to the deer.
The salesman nudged her into testing out the car.
Album sales are nudging the one million mark.
The price of gold has nudged a little higher.
Recent Examples on the Web
My dream guy occasionally nudged me to pet him or offer a treat.
—Jennifer Wolfgram, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Commitments may need clearer promises, especially as the Moon in your tender 8th house nudges Jupiter in your busy 2nd house.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
According to Stephen Colbert, O’Brien had been nudging him toward the exit for a while.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
But these are minor blemishes in a production whose visual richness focuses attention on the music rather than nudge it off to the side.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
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Jennifer Wolfgram, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Commitments may need clearer promises, especially as the Moon in your tender 8th house nudges Jupiter in your busy 2nd house.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
According to Stephen Colbert, O’Brien had been nudging him toward the exit for a while.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
But these are minor blemishes in a production whose visual richness focuses attention on the music rather than nudge it off to the side.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nudge
Cite this Entry
“Nudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nudge. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nudge
verb
nudged; nudging
: to touch or push gently
especially
: to attract the attention of by a push of the elbow
nudge
noun
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