budge

1 of 3

noun

ˈbəj 

: 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

Verb

• succumb
• concede
• submit
• surrender
• relent
• capitulate

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

Noun

Commissioners levy taxes, make appropriations, adopt budges and make appointments to certain offices, boards and commissions. — Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

The iconic blue peel-off stain for all-day lip color feels like nothing on your lips and is transfer-proof, budge-proof and won't feather into lines. — ABC News, 19 May 2026

Verb

Joe Raedle | Getty Images Mortgage rates didn't budge last week, leaving little incentive for either home buyers or current homeowners to call their lenders. — Diana Olick, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

The economist flagged that beyond coding, there just isn’t much evidence of wide adoption, noting customer service employment is barely budged in recent years, likewise in manufacturing. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026

Adjective

These spritzes have the same no-budge hold on makeup as any other setting mist, but the key difference lies in their radiant—not matte or shimmery—finishes. — Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 21 Apr. 2026

Despite the unprecedented capabilities – and uncanny, seemingly humanlike qualities – of generative AI, the limit on how much human work can be fully automated will continue to only very slowly budge. — Eric Siegel, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

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

Phrases Containing budge

• give/budge an inch

Rhymes for budge

• drudge
• frage
• fudge
• grudge
• judge
• mudge
• nudge
• rudge
• sludge
• smudge
• trudge
• adjudge

Kids Definition

budge

verb

ˈbəj

budged; budging

1

: move entry 1 sense 1

2

: give in, yield

wouldn't budge on their opinion