dodge

1 of 2

noun

ˈdäj 

1

: an act of evading by sudden bodily movement

2

a

: an artful device to evade, deceive, or trick

b

: expedient

dodge

2 of 2

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

Noun

• ruse
• scheme
• trick

Verb

• weave
• duck

Examples of dodge in a Sentence

Noun

It was just another dodge to get out of working.

just another dodge to get out of working in the yard

Verb

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

Noun

Most Americans don’t sign up to fight and die in those numbers for lawyers’ dodges, legal manipulations, or constitutional theories. — Literary Hub, 19 Oct. 2026

Waggling the controller for light and heavy attacks while pressing the buttons to parry, blow, and dodge reminded me of the motion-control scheme Capcom implemented for Street Fighter 6's Switch 2 port. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026

Verb

Authorities at the Villages denied him access, and the shoot required him to dodge security guards, charm subjects, and occasionally adopt disguises. — Alex Barasch, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

When the Gaza questions do pick up again, most Democrats are likely to punt to the International Criminal Court — already a popular way to dodge them. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

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

Biographical Definition

Dodge

biographical name

ˈdäj 

Mary Elizabeth 1831–1905 née Mapes ˈmāps  American author