(~s, nudging, ~d)
1.
If you ~ someone, you push them gently, usually with your elbow, in order to draw their attention to something.
I ~d Stan and pointed again...
VERB: V n
•
Nudge is also a noun.
She slipped her arm under his and gave him a ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing
2.
If you ~ someone or something into a place or position, you gently push them there.
Edna Swinson ~d him into the sitting room...
VERB: V n prep/adv
•
Nudge is also a noun.
McKinnon gave the wheel another slight ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing
3.
If you ~ someone into doing something, you gently persuade them to do it.
Bit by bit Bob had ~d Fritz into selling his controlling interest...
Foreigners must use their power to ~ the country towards greater tolerance...
British tour companies are nudging clients to travel further afield.
VERB: V n into -ing/n, V n towards n, V n to-inf
•
Nudge is also a noun.
I had a feeling that the challenge appealed to him. All he needed was a ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing
4.
If someone or something is nudging a particular amount, level, or state, they have almost reached it.
The temperature when we were there was nudging 80°F.
= approaching
VERB: usu cont, V n