# budge

/ˈbədʒ/ (US) · /bˈʌdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/budge
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to move slightly

verb · CEFR B2

to move even a tiny bit, especially when something is stuck or very heavy.

For teachers: to move or shift slightly from a fixed position. Often used in the negative to emphasize that an object is immovable.

- I pushed the heavy sofa as hard as I could, but it wouldn't budge.
- Despite the combined efforts of the recovery team, the boulder refused to budge from the narrow mountain pass.

### 2. to change your mind

verb · CEFR B2

to change your opinion or decision because someone is trying to persuade you.

For teachers: to yield or compromise in one's opinions, beliefs, or demands under pressure.

- The manager refused to budge on the price, even after we complained.
- Negotiators remained hopeful, but the opposing party would not budge on the core issue of territorial sovereignty.

### 3. to jump a queue

verb · CEFR C1 · Dialect · Informal

to push into a line of people instead of waiting at the back.

For teachers: to join the front or middle of a queue rather than the back; to cut in line.

- It is very rude to budge in line when others have been waiting for an hour.
- The supervisor had to intervene when a group of teenagers tried to budge in at the front of the ticket queue.

### 4. lambskin fur

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a type of lamb fur used in the past to decorate clothing.

For teachers: a type of fur prepared from lambskin with the wool left on, historically used for trimming scholastic or formal garments.

- The old portraits show scholars wearing gowns trimmed with budge.
- The ceremonial robes were traditionally edged with budge, a practice that fell out of common use by the late seventeenth century.

## Examples

- The heavy door is stuck and will not budge.
- Despite hours of intense negotiation, the company refused to budge on the proposed salary increase.
- The rusted bolt finally began to budge after I applied several layers of lubricant and used a longer wrench for better leverage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.