wedge

noun \ ˈwej \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of wedge

1 : a piece of a substance (such as wood or iron) that tapers to a thin edge and is used for splitting wood and rocks, raising heavy bodies, or for tightening by being driven into something

2 a : something (such as a policy) causing a breach or separation

b : something used to initiate an action or development

3 : something wedge-shaped: such as

a : an array of troops or tanks in the form of a wedge

b : the wedge-shaped stroke in cuneiform characters

c : a shoe having a heel extending from the back of the shoe to the front of the shank and a tread formed by an extension of the sole

d : an iron golf club with a broad low-angled face for maximum loft

4 : a golf shot made with a wedge — called also wedge shot

See wedge defined for English-language learners

See wedge defined for kids

Examples of wedge in a Sentence

He used a wedge to split the firewood.
A wedge held the door open.
The battalion formed a wedge and marched toward the enemy.

Recent Examples of wedge from the Web

The Spaniard and new father hit five consecutive balls into the water at the par-5 15th — four of them from less than 100 yards out and with a sand wedge in his hands.

— mark long, BostonGlobe.com, "Past champions Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett go home early," 7 Apr. 2018
Since a less-than-stellar opening victory over Luke List, who putted with a wedge after compromising his putter on the seventh hole, Thomas has been in sparkling form.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "Justin Thomas Can Become World No. 1 With Win Over Bubba Watson at WGC-Dell Match Play," 24 Mar. 2018
The Turkish offensive has driven a wedge in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance.

— sune engel rasmussen, WSJ, "Turkish Forces Set for Assault on Key Kurdish-Held City in Syria," 9 Mar. 2018
Zayed and Kushner reportedly discussed efforts to drive a wedge between Russia and Iran, so Russian foreign policy is a leading contender.

— alex shephard, The New Republic, "If there was “no collusion” why did the Trump transition team work so hard to set up a back channel with Russia?," 8 Mar. 2018
Southerners are linked to our rural past and remember feasting on summertime suppers of fresh homegrown vegetables with a wedge of buttery cornbread.

— leslie anne tarabella, AL.com, "Lessons from the garden and farm," 13 Feb. 2018
In particular, critics warn that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be reaching out to Seoul to drive a wedge in the U.S.-South Korea alliance.

— oriana skylar mastro and arzan tarapore, Washington Post, "Yes, North Korea could drive a wedge between the U.S. and South Korea," 12 Jan. 2018
More than 50 years after its origin, the concept of the model minority is still being used as a wedge in discussions of race.

— matt schiavenza, New Republic, "Silicon Valley’s Forgotten Minority," 11 Jan. 2018
Close the door or hold the dome light button down with a wedge.

— mike allen, Popular Mechanics, "How to Stop Car Battery Drains," 26 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wedge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of wedge

Origin and Etymology of wedge

Middle English wegge, from Old English wecg; akin to Old High German wecki wedge, Lithuanian vagis

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology

wedge

verb

Definition of wedge

wedged; wedging

transitive verb

1 : to fasten or tighten by driving in a wedge

2 a : to force or press (something) into a narrow space : cram

b : to force (one's way) into or through

3 : to separate or force apart with or as if with a wedge

intransitive verb

: to become wedged

See wedge defined for English-language learners

Examples of wedge in a Sentence

She wedged her foot into the crack.
The dog got wedged between the couch and the end table.
I wedged myself into the car's back seat.
She wedged the door open.

Recent Examples of wedge from the Web

At Augusta National last weekend, Reed used a Ping driver, Titleist and Callaway irons, Artisan Golf wedges, a 7-year-old Nike 3-wood club and an Odyssey putter.

— scott gleeson, USA TODAY, "How unusual, costly is it for Masters champ Patrick Reed to go without equipment sponsor?," 13 Apr. 2018
The 44-year-old contractor was working on the base of the second-floor escalator when his legs fell through and became wedged between the escalator steps and the floor.

— drew broach, NOLA.com, "1 killed in Michoud area when motorcycle hits pedestrian, New Orleans police say," 31 Mar. 2018
The land sits wedged between Wilder Ranch State Park and the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument, and set to be on the path of the pending regional Coastal Rail Trail corridor.

— david caraccio, sacbee, "This is the 175-acre Santa Cruz ranch and former nudist beach on market for $35 million," 27 Mar. 2018
The new facility would wedge two stories and a basement onto the side and top of a concrete bunker that housed two anti-submarine guns during World War II.

— michael levenson, BostonGlobe.com, "In Nahant, a quiet seaside research center has turned into a bitter battleground," 19 Mar. 2018
Baklava is presented on a large pie platter and cut to order into individual wedges, with thick pistachio ice cream wedged in the middle.

— jodi mailander farrell, miamiherald, "We reviewed Salt Bae’s Miami restaurant. Could it possibly live up to the hype?," 15 Mar. 2018
Paternoster knows how to heighten the surging power of the music by wedging in mini stops, pauses, breaks and other breath-catching gaps.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Punk Trio Screaming Females To Play Space Ballroom," 31 Mar. 2018
It was wedged into a half of a storefront, across the street from an empty lot that had been recently razed by the city.

— caille millner, San Francisco Chronicle, "For the singular Tawei Lin, art fed the soul," 30 Mar. 2018
On Monday, the chain debuted the Waffle Double Down sandwich, which features two fried chicken fillets with a Belgian waffle wedged between them, drizzled in a Canadian maple aioli sauce.

— madison roberts, PEOPLE.com, "KFC Debuts New Waffle Double Down Sandwich in Canada," 28 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of wedge

15th century

wedge Synonyms

Synonyms

cram, crowd, crush, jam, ram, sandwich, shoehorn, squeeze, stuff;

Related Words

fill, heap, jam-pack, load, pack;

WEDGE Defined for English Language Learners

wedge

noun

Definition of wedge for English Language Learners

: a piece of wood, metal, etc., with one pointed end and one thicker end that is used to split something, to fit into a space, to separate two things stuck together, etc.
: something that is shaped like a triangle or wedge
: a golf club that is used for hitting short, high shots

wedge

verb

Definition of wedge for English Language Learners

: to force (someone or something) into a very small or narrow space
: to use a wedge or similar object to keep (something, such as a door or window) in an open or closed position