budge

1 of 3

noun

ˈbəj How to pronounce budge (audio)
Synonyms of budge
: a fur formerly prepared from lambskin dressed with the wool outward

budge

2 of 3

verb

budged; budging

intransitive verb

1
: move, shift
the mule wouldn't budge
2
: to give way : yield
wouldn't budge on the issue

transitive verb

: to cause to move or change

budge

3 of 3

adjective

archaic
: pompous, solemn

Synonyms of budge

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Verb

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Examples of budge in a Sentence

Verb Their horses refused to budge. The door was stuck, and we couldn't even get it to budge. Could you try opening this jar for me? I can't budge the lid. We tried to change her mind, but we couldn't budge her.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
That meant despite a large headline increase to the stock's price, its underlying valuation barely budged. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 Anything less would add to Iran’s economic pain but not enough to budge its strategic calculus. — Yash Roy, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 However, exploratory talks for Sarr were not followed by a bid and sources have told The Athletic that only an astronomical offer would change Palace’s stance and, with other targets still in mind, Liverpool are unlikely to budge. — Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 But, nationally, the share of kindergarteners who received vaccine exemptions has risen less than one per cent since Kennedy took office, and the measles-vaccination rate has hardly budged. — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for budge

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bugee, from Anglo-French buge

Verb

Anglo-French bouger, from Vulgar Latin *bullicare, from Latin bullire to boil — more at boil

Adjective

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1578, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1599, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of budge was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing budge

Rhymes for budge

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Browse Nearby Words

Budenny
budge
budgeree
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Cite this Entry

“Budge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/budge. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

budge

verb
ˈbəj
budged; budging
1
: move entry 1 sense 1
2
: give in, yield
wouldn't budge on their opinion
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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