# lodged

/ˈɫɑdʒd/ (US) · /lˈɒdʒd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. stuck or fixed

verb · CEFR B2

to become stuck or fixed in a particular place.

For teachers: to become firmly fixed or embedded in a specific location, often unintentionally.

- A small piece of food got lodged in his throat, making him cough.
- The bullet remained lodged in the wooden beam, providing the investigators with a crucial piece of ballistic evidence from the scene.

### 2. to stay somewhere

verb · CEFR B2

to stay in a room or house that you pay for.

For teachers: to reside in a rented room or temporary accommodation; often used in the past tense to describe a living arrangement.

- During his first year at university, he lodged with a local family.
- The seasonal workers were lodged in a series of small cottages near the edge of the estate for the duration of the harvest.

### 3. to make a formal complaint

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to officially give a complaint or a claim to an authority.

For teachers: to formally present or file a statement, such as a complaint, protest, or appeal, to the appropriate authority.

- The company lodged a formal protest against the new tax rules.
- The solicitors lodged an appeal with the High Court, citing several procedural errors made during the initial trial.

### 4. animal lying down

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

used to describe an animal, like a deer, lying down with its head up.

For teachers: describing a beast of the chase, such as a deer, in a lying position with the head raised.

- The family crest featured a lodged stag in the center of the shield.
- In traditional heraldry, a lodged animal is depicted resting on its belly with its head held erect, signifying a state of peaceful vigilance.

## Examples

- A small bone was lodged in the dog's throat.
- The hikers found an old arrowhead lodged deep within the trunk of an ancient oak tree.
- The bullet remained lodged in the soldier's shoulder for decades, as surgeons originally deemed it too risky to remove without causing further nerve damage.

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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.