wedge

1 of 2

noun

1
: a piece of a substance (such as wood or iron) that tapers to a thin edge and is used for splitting wood and rocks, raising heavy bodies, or for tightening by being driven into something
2
a
: something (such as a policy) causing a breach or separation
b
: something used to initiate an action or development
3
: something wedge-shaped: such as
a
: an array of troops or tanks in the form of a wedge
b
: the wedge-shaped stroke in cuneiform characters
c
: a shoe having a heel extending from the back of the shoe to the front of the shank and a tread formed by an extension of the sole
d
: an iron golf club with a broad low-angled face for maximum loft
4
: a golf shot made with a wedge

called also wedge shot

Illustration of wedge

Illustration of wedge
  • W wedge 1

wedge

2 of 2

verb

wedged; wedging

transitive verb

1
: to fasten or tighten by driving in a wedge
2
a
: to force or press (something) into a narrow space : cram
b
: to force (one's way) into or through
3
: to separate or force apart with or as if with a wedge

Examples of wedge in a Sentence

Noun He used a wedge to split the firewood. A wedge held the door open. The battalion formed a wedge and marched toward the enemy. Verb She wedged her foot into the crack. The dog got wedged between the couch and the end table. I wedged myself into the car's back seat. She wedged the door open.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Alaïa designed a knee-high boot with a futuristic silver wedge, available in a stunning caramel hue. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 24 Apr. 2024 Driving wedges between members of the axis, on the other hand, will not work. Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024 These wedges not only look cute paired with a summer dress or your go-to pair of jeans, but are also sure to keep you blister-free. Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024 My husband likes his wedge with more butter and some honey. Adriene Rathbun, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024 Garnish with a fresh lime wedge on the rim of the glass. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2024 But pollsters found that a wedge was starting to form, as backing among Republicans and conservative independents had dropped 13 percentage points just since the previous year. Emily L. Mahoney, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024 After spending a day watching them, Schumacher shot and processed the sheep on a wedge of cliff rock just big enough to hold the two hunters and the ewe. Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024 Squeeze an orange wedge into the glass and rub the orange peel around the rim for extra flavor. Michelle Darrisaw, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
Not only is such exposition a poor substitute for more specific references that could inject more personality, it’s supplemented by actual film clips wedged into the episodes via cuts that come off both abrupt and distracting. Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024 That parcel was split in two by a developer who wedged in a pair of expansive new dwellings where once there was just one. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024 Pictures from the scene show the semitruck’s rear wheels lifted off the roadway, with the rear top corner of the trailer seemingly wedged into a steel beam on the bridge infrastructure. Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 2 Mar. 2024 But experts question if such militarization will work as a long-term solution to criminal gangs when the root causes of Ecuador’s violence – including systemic corruption, weak state institutions and being wedged between some of the biggest cocaine producers in the world – have not changed. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 The van was visibly partially wedged under the back of the bus before it was towed away. Fox 19 Digital Staff, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024 Cool and wet weather prevailed today as chillier air wedged up against the Appalachians refused to budge. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024 Another longtime customer wedged into the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd in ordering space, which holds four people, tops. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024 The trailer of the truck could be seen wedged against the beams of the bridge, stopping it from falling into the water below. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wedge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wegge, from Old English wecg; akin to Old High German wecki wedge, Lithuanian vagis

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wedge was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wedge

Cite this Entry

“Wedge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wedge. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

wedge

1 of 2 noun
1
: a piece of wood or metal with a pointed edge used especially to split wood or rocks and to lift heavy weights
2
: something (as a piece of pie or land) shaped like a triangle
3
a
: something (as a policy or action) that causes a separation or break
the decision drove a wedge between them
b
: something that serves to open the way for an action or development

wedge

2 of 2 verb
wedged; wedging
1
: to fasten or tighten by or as if by driving in a wedge
2
a
: to press or force into a narrow space
wedged a stick into the crack
b
: to force (one's way) into or through
wedged his way into the crowd
3
: to separate or force apart with or as if with a wedge

More from Merriam-Webster on wedge

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