dodge

¹

[ doj ]

verb (used with object)

, dodged, dodg·ing.

1. to elude or evade by a sudden shift of position or by strategy:

   to dodge a blow; to dodge a question.

   Synonyms: avoid

2. Also hold back. Photography. (in printing) to shade (an area of a print) from exposure for a period, while exposing the remainder of the print in order to lighten or eliminate the area (sometimes followed by out ). Compare burn ¹( def 47 ).

verb (used without object)

, dodged, dodg·ing.

1. to move aside or change position suddenly, as to avoid a blow or get behind something.
2. to use evasive methods; prevaricate:

   When asked a direct question, he dodges.

   Synonyms: quibble, equivocate

noun

1. a quick, evasive movement, as a sudden jump away to avoid a blow or the like.
2. an ingenious expedient or contrivance; shifty trick.
3. Slang. a business, profession, or occupation.

Dodge

²

[ doj ]

noun

1. Mary Elizabeth, 1831–1905, U.S. editor and author of children's books.

dodge

/ dɒdʒ /

verb

1. to avoid or attempt to avoid (a blow, discovery, etc), as by moving suddenly
2. to evade (questions, etc) by cleverness or trickery
3. intr Leisure:Bell-ringing to make a bell change places with its neighbour when sounding in successive changes
4. tr photog to lighten or darken (selected areas on a print) by manipulating the light from an enlarger

noun

1. a plan or expedient contrived to deceive
2. a sudden evasive or hiding movement
3. a clever contrivance
4. Leisure:Bell-ringing the act of dodging

Other Words From

• out·dodge verb (used with object) outdodged outdodging
• un·dodged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dodge¹

First recorded in 1560–70; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of dodge¹

C16: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

“Everybody was on alert because little balls of grease drifted out. People floated backwards, like in the Matrix film, to dodge the balls of meat juice.”

From BBC

Watching Kamala Harris run for president against Donald Trump felt like watching the world’s most difficult game of Frogger: His dogged commitment to irrationality and ugliness—and the loyalty it inspired in his followers—was the incessant traffic of cars and river logs that the Harris campaign had to duck and dodge to avoid.

From Slate

“If I were wealthy today, I would not be buying stock in the entertainment world,” said Stephen Galloway, dean of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

From Los Angeles Times

A livestreamer captured the entire incident on Kick.com on Friday around 2 a.m. as a black Dodge Charger spun doughnuts around a crowd of spectators, drifting dangerously close as a passenger in a white hoodie leaned halfway out of the car posing for pictures.

From Los Angeles Times

This means that Tester, who is a prodigious fundraiser, has been able use his campaign cash to pay the very lowest rate an ad space sells for on any given broadcast—the same $1,000 that, say, Lithia Dodge of Billings pays.

From Slate