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Glite Dictionary
to budge

to budge

66 3.1
Move or make something move a little after being stuck
  • verb
  • /bʌdʒ/
translation icon : moverse
  • Even a gentle push couldn't make the old door budge from its stubborn position.
  • refuse to budge
  • never budge
  • hasn't budged in 20 years

That's the one thing that's not budging, right?

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Examples

  • The two of us couldn't budge it so much as an inch.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • I asked my boss but he wouldn't budge.

    WWJD II: The Woodcarver (2012)

  • If you find the scale still does not budge, make an appointment to see your doctor.

    Blog text (19)

  • That means once it's placed and once it's fully set, it's not budging, which I like.

  • You can't budge the stick.

    The Right Stuff (1983)

  • However, nothing anyone could say would budge her, and she went off and joined old King Pelle's household.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • For one thing, we hardly ever budged, hardly ever talked or played or anything.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I can't budge it with force, and I don't know what else to do.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Reagan never budged an inch, then or in the rest of his presidency.

    Academic text (2011)

  • He tried to herd them across to safety, but they wouldn't budge.

    Babe (1995)

Synonyms

to shift
vsto budge
683 2.0

Move someone or something from one place to another

is a very small movement often limited and not broad change
to wiggle
vsto budge
89 1.0

To move with small, quick movements from side to side or up and down

is a small shift often occurring after resisting movement
to sway
vsto budge
77 2.4

To move slowly from side to side in a gentle rhythm

is a slight single motion often without rhythmic movement
to stir
vsto budge
75 1.0

To move slightly after being still

is movement that follows resistance rather than only starting from stillness
to jiggle
vsto budge
46 3.2

To move something in short, quick shaking movements

is a slight change usually after pressure or resistance
to waggle
vsto budge
7 4.5

To move something repeatedly from side to side or up and down

is a small initial motion often after resisting movement
to joggle
vsto budge
7.7

To move something lightly and repeatedly so it shakes

is a slight move often requiring force to overcome resistance

Antonyms

to stand still
75 1.0

Stay upright in one place without moving

to refuse
4 9.2

To be hard to explain or understand

Idioms

to budge an inch
  • Informal
1 7.8

Refuse to change an opinion or position at all

How Far

to move
∞ 1.0
shift
363 3.5
to budge
66 3.1
to stir
75 1.0
to stay put
  • Informal
133 2.0

Surface Forms

budge infinitive
budged past
budged past participle
budging present participle
budges third person singular

Etymology

Budge comes from an old French verb bouger meaning 'to move', which is still the French verb today; a helpful way to remember it is to think of something that only moves a little. So, to budge something is to make it move, often just slightly after some resistance.