budge

¹

[ buhj ]

verb (used without object)

, budged, budg·ing.

1. to move slightly; begin to move:

   He stepped on the gas but the car didn't budge.

2. to change one's opinion or stated position; yield:

   Once her father had said “no,” he wouldn't budge.

verb (used with object)

, budged, budg·ing.

1. to cause to move; begin to move:

   It took three of them to budge the rock.

2. to cause (someone) to reconsider or change an opinion, decision, or stated position:

   They couldn't budge the lawyer.

   Synonyms: convince, sway, move, induce, persuade

budge

²

[ buhj ]

noun

1. a fur made from lambskin with the wool dressed outward, used especially as an inexpensive trimming on academic or official gowns.

adjective

1. made from, trimmed, or lined with budge.
2. Obsolete. pompous; solemn.

Budge

³

[ buhj ]

noun

1. (John) Donald, 1915–2000, U.S. tennis player.

Budge

¹

/ bʌdʒ /

noun

1. BudgeDon(ald)19152000MUSSPORT AND GAMES: tennis player Don ( ald ). 1915–2000, US tennis player, the first man to win the Grand Slam of singles championships (Australia, France, Wimbledon, and the US) in one year (1938)

budge

²

/ bʌdʒ /

noun

1. a lambskin dressed for the fur to be worn on the outer side

budge

³

/ bʌdʒ /

verb

1. to move, however slightly

   the car won't budge

2. to change or cause to change opinions, etc

Other Words From

• budger noun
• un·budged adjective
• un·budging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of budge¹

1580–90; < Anglo-French, Middle French bouger to stir < Vulgar Latin *bullicāre to bubble, frequentative of Latin bullīre; boil ¹

Origin of budge²

1350–1400; Middle English bugee, perhaps akin to budget

Word History and Origins

Origin of budge¹

C14: from Anglo-French bogee , of obscure origin

Origin of budge²

C16: from Old French bouger , from Vulgar Latin bullicāre (unattested) to bubble, from Latin bullīre to boil, from bulla bubble

Example Sentences

Schiff’s support with a majority of California voters has barely budged since then.

From Los Angeles Times

Polls show the race is essentially tied, within a margin that has budged little since Harris replaced President Biden as the Democratic nominee in late July.

From Los Angeles Times

There is currently no sign either councils or the Scottish government will budge on pay.

From BBC

That these temperature projections haven't really budged is one of the things that is frustrating the UN - while countries have made promises at COP27 and COP28, action on the ground has been very slow.

From BBC

It's clear there is a hardcore base of Trump followers who cannot be budged from their support.

From Salon

Related Words

• bend