verb / noun

dodge

DAHJ/dɑːdʒ/

A quick maneuver to avoid something unwelcome.

The older man dodges the ball by ducking sharply to one side.

An older man sharply ducks sideways as a soft dodgeball passes through the space where his head had been, visibly avoiding contact.

Etymology

Early uses included going “this way and that” in speech or action, alongside later uses for sudden sideways movement and evasive tricks. These resemble today's physical and clever avoidance, but the exact sense development is obscure.

In context

Reynard Lowell1:22

Having to dodge the table every time we wanted to go to the alfresco area was really annoying.

Small Dining Area Makeover + IKEA Bench Hack

More examples

With a quick dodge, she avoids the cyclist.
His claim of a bad connection is just a dodge.
She dodges the question by changing the subject.

Forms

dodge · dodges · dodged · dodging

dodger noun — Someone who habitually evades duties or obligations.

Similar words

evade: Emphasizes escaping or avoiding, without necessarily moving suddenly.
sidestep: Suggests moving sideways or avoiding an issue instead of confronting it.
duck: Specifically means lowering the head or body to avoid something.