Budge Meaning
/bʌd͡ʒ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo move; to be shifted from a fixed position.
verbTo move; to shift from a fixed position.
Sentence Examples
She will not budge an inch no matter what anyone says.
Tom said, "budge over," forced his way in and sat down.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The heavy rock would not ____ no matter how hard I pushed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The heavy stone was so large that we could not ____ it even an inch.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Middle French bouger, from Old French bougier, from Vulgar Latin *bullicāre (“to bubble; seethe; move; stir”), from Latin bullīre (“to boil; seethe; roil”). More at boil.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Ile not budge an inch boy: Let him come, and kindly."
— c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 208, column 1:
"[…]although his ſouldiers were much moved and offended to ſee their fellowes put to the worſt, he could not be induced to bouge from his place[…]"
— 1603, Michel de Montaigne, “Of the batell of Dreux”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 148:
"Yet goals in either half from Jordi Gómez and James Perch inspired them and then, in the face of a relentless City onslaught, they simply would not budge, throwing heart, body and soul in the way of a ball which seemed destined for their net on several occasions."
— 2014 March 9, Jacob Steinberg, “Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals”, in The Guardian:
"The gender equality picture stateside can also seem bleak, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court gutting reproductive rights last summer. Women still make only 83 percent of what men do in the U.S.—a stat that has barely budged in the past 20 years."
— 2023 March 13, Naureen Khan, “Doug Emhoff Wants Men to Clear the Path for More Kamalas”, in Cosmopolitan:
"If only I could get Ambrose to take me away somewhere! But he won't budge."
— 1933, Richard Curle, Corruption, page 75:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The heavy rock would not ____ no matter how hard I pushed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The heavy stone was so large that we could not ____ it even an inch.