nudge

nudge — verb

1. to give someone a small, light push, often with your elbow, so that they notice

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to give someone a small, light push, often with your elbow, so that they notice you or move in a certain direction.

Example

Rodrigo nudged his sister and pointed at the rainbow outside the window.

nudge + somebody to draw attention

The cat nudged the bowl with its nose, hoping for more food.

nudge + something with [body part]

Common collocations
  • nudge with your elbow
  • nudge someone
  • nudge something
  • gently nudge
Synonyms
  • poke

    usually done with a finger or pointed object, more precise and quick

  • elbow

    specifically uses the elbow, often sharper

  • tap

    a quick light touch, typically with a finger, not a body part

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

nudge + somebody

nudge + something

nudge + somebody + with + body part

Usage Note

Commonly used with body parts such as elbow, foot, or nose. The action is always light or gentle — a hard push is not a nudge.

Common Mistakes

She nudged me hard to get my attention.
She nudged me gently to get my attention.
a nudge is always light; use 'shove' or 'push' for a stronger motion.
He nudged the heavy box across the room.
He pushed the heavy box across the room.
nudge describes a small movement, not moving a heavy object over a distance.

2. to move slowly toward a higher level, number, or position, or to cause something

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to move slowly toward a higher level, number, or position, or to cause something to move that way.

Example

Gabriel watched his portfolio nudge above 50 thousand dollars in March and grinned.

nudge above [level] — used in finance

Temperatures nudged toward 40 degrees during the July heatwave, and Jin read under a giant banyan tree most afternoons.

Common collocations
  • nudge above
  • nudge toward
  • nudge higher
  • nudge up
  • nudge past
Synonyms
  • edge up

    suggests very small increments, common in finance

  • inch up

    even slower and more gradual than nudge

  • creep

    steady, slow movement, often imperceptible

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

nudge + adverb of direction (higher, upward, past)

nudge + preposition (above, toward, past) + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently appears in financial and statistical contexts (prices, rates, temperatures, percentages). The intransitive form (prices nudged higher) is more common than the transitive.

Common Mistakes

Sales nudged to a record high last month.
Sales crept up to a record high last month.
'nudge' implies a small, gradual movement; 'creep' or 'edge' may be more natural for steady upward movement.

3. to gently steer someone toward a decision or action by giving subtle suggestions

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to gently steer someone toward a decision or action by giving subtle suggestions rather than by applying direct pressure.

Example

The teacher nudged Reuben to join the science club by praising his curiosity.

nudge [person] + to-infinitive

Anjali's parents gently nudged her toward applying to medical school.

nudge [person] + toward + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • nudge someone into
  • nudge someone toward
  • nudge someone to do
  • gently nudge
Synonyms
  • coax

    uses praise, flattery, or promises to persuade

  • prompt

    focuses on reminding or suggesting, often with a verbal cue

  • prod

    more insistent or repeated, sometimes slightly annoying

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

nudge + somebody + to-infinitive

nudge + somebody + into + noun/gerund

nudge + somebody + toward + noun

Usage Note

Very common in behavioural economics and public policy ('nudge theory'), where the subject is often an institution, system, or policy rather than an individual person. The persuasion is always gentle — if there is pressure or strong influence, use 'push', 'urge', or 'pressure' instead.

Common Mistakes

The boss nudged me to work overtime against my will.
The boss pressured me to work overtime against my will.
nudge implies gentle encouragement; when there is resistance or force, use a stronger verb.
She nudged him into buying a car he could not afford.
She talked him into buying a car he could not afford.
'nudge' implies a positive or neutral intention; 'talk into' works for persuasion with negative outcomes.
Phrasal verbs

nudge along

phrasal verb

to help someone or something make gradual progress by gentle encouragement.

The mentor nudged the young designer along by offering helpful feedback each week.

Weekly progress reports from the design team nudged the mobile app project along, and by October it was ready for beta testing.

nudge — noun

Word family

  • nudger
    nounC1
  • nudging
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/3

All four words describe influencing someone's actions, but they differ in intensity and method. 'Nudge' is the gentlest — a light, indirect suggestion that leaves the person free to choose. 'Prompt' focuses on reminding or cueing someone to act, often at the right moment, like a computer prompt or a teacher's hint. 'Coax' involves using praise, flattery, or gentle requests to get someone to do something they may be hesitant about. 'Prod' is more insistent and can feel slightly annoying, like repeated small pushes toward a decision. 'Urge' is the strongest, implying active and earnest encouragement. For example, you might nudge a friend to apply for a job by sending the listing, coax them by talking up their skills, prod them when they keep putting it off, or urge them to apply before the deadline closes.

coax ↗prompt ↗prod ↗urge ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • give someone a nudge
  • feel a nudge
  • need a nudge
  • a gentle nudge

Prepositions

Etymology

ScandinavianEnglish

The word 'nudge' first appeared in English around the 1620s, though its exact origin is uncertain. Many language historians believe it came from a Scandinavian source, possibly related to Norwegian nugge or nyggja, meaning 'to push' or 'to jostle.' For centuries the word was used mainly in its physical sense of a light push. In the 2000s, the word gained a much broader meaning when the economists Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein published the book Nudge, which introduced 'nudge theory' — the idea that small changes in how choices are presented can gently steer people toward better decisions without taking away their freedom to choose.