Definition

1. Verb:
   • To move very slightly; to make a small movement or adjustment: "budge" means to change position slightly, often with difficulty or after resistance. It implies a minimal movement, not a large change.
   • To change an opinion, attitude, or decision; to yield or give way: "budge" can also mean to alter a firmly held stance or to compromise.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Physical Movement):
  • The heavy rock wouldn't budge, no matter how hard we pushed.
  • He shifted slightly, but the sleeping cat on his lap didn't budge.
• Verb (Figurative - Opinion/Position):
  • She refused to budge on her decision to leave the company.
  • After hours of negotiation, neither side would budge from their initial demands.

Advanced Usage

• "won't/wouldn't budge an inch": to refuse to move or change one's position at all, emphasizing complete stubbornness.
  • The landlord wouldn't budge an inch on the rent increase.
• "budge up" (British English, informal): to move over to make space for someone else.
  • Budge up a bit so I can sit down too.

Variants and Related Words

• Budge is primarily used as a verb. It does not have common noun forms derived directly from this sense. (Note: "Budge" as a proper noun, like the tennis player Don Budge, is a separate, unrelated word).

Synonyms

• Shift: to move or change position.
• Move: to change place or position.
• Yield: to give way to pressure or persuasion.
• Relent: to become less severe, harsh, or strict.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Budge up: (informal, chiefly UK) To move closer together to make space.
  • Can you all budge up and let me through?

Related Idioms

• Not budge an inch: To be completely unwilling to change one's mind or position.
  • On the issue of safety regulations, the committee chair did not budge an inch.
• Couldn't budge it/him/her/them: Was completely unable to make something/someone move or change.
  • I tried to convince her, but I couldn't budge her.

Noun

1. United States tennis player who in 1938 was the first to win the Australian and French and English and United States singles championship in the same year (1915-2000)

Verb

1. move very slightly
   • He shifted in his seat