Dodge Meaning
/dɒd͡ʒ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo avoid (something) by moving suddenly out of the way.
verbTo avoid; to sidestep.
Sentence Examples
Don't dodge the issue, I want you to answer my question.
On his bicycle he can dodge through traffic with amazing speed.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The driver had to ____ suddenly to avoid hitting the stray dog.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Don't ____ the issue, I want you to answer my question.
Word Origin & History
Likely from dialectal dodge, dod, dodd (“to jog, trudge along, totter", also "to jerk, jig”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from unrecorded Middle English *dodden, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *dud- (“to move”), related to Old English dydrian, dyderian (“to delude, deceive”), Middle English dideren (“to tremble, quake, shiver”), English dodder, Norwegian dudra (“to tremble”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"But that was only the start, because the Fletchers - (obviously) carrying two torpedo launchers - were only launching half-salvos, so one full wave of torpedoes had driven off the cruisers after having savaged the destroyers, aaand then it was a case of, well, here come twenty-five destroyers, here comes^([sic]) two hundred and fifty torpedoes, hello Japanese battleships, dodge this!"
— 2019 March 6, Drachinifel, 26:48 from the start, in The Battle of Samar (Alternate History) - Bring on the Battleships!, archived from the original on 20 Jul 2022:
"The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood."
— 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 2, in Internal Combustion:
"“We must follow after this dreadnought, hard on her tracks. She shall not dodge me though she hide in unfathomed waters, or in the earth's bosom, or in lonely woods, or on crags!”"
— 1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 35:
"Or if a footpad asks him for his money, what need he care provided he has an umbrella? He threatens to dodge the ferrule into the ruffian’s eye, and the fellow starts back and says, “Lord, sir! I meant no harm. […]"
— 1862, George Borrow, Wild Wales:
""I had a notion he was dodging me all the way I came, for I saw him just behind me, turn which way I would.""
— 1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, II.iii.7:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The driver had to ____ suddenly to avoid hitting the stray dog.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Don't ____ the issue, I want you to answer my question.