: 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
Noun
He used a wedge to split the firewood.
A wedge held the door open.
The battalion formed a wedge and marched toward the enemy. Verb
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.
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Noun
Side and dessert options include macaroni and cheese, potato wedges, white beans, collard greens, banana pudding, cookies and more.—Molly Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025 Meanwhile, the pierced silhouette is also offered in flat mules, 60mm heels and wedges.—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
Cumberland Terrace had somehow occupied the corner of Bay and Bloor Streets since the 1970s, wedged between luxury towers and some of Canada’s most expensive commercial real estate.—Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025 In this era when cars wedge their bets between classes—when small SUVs are really crossovers and small crossovers are really large hatchbacks—the E-53 is well and truly a wagon.—John Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wedge
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English wegge, from Old English wecg; akin to Old High German wecki wedge, Lithuanian vagis
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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