nudge

/nʌdʒ/
noun
  1. A gentle push, especially with an elbow.
    • She gave him a nudge to wake him up.
    • He felt a nudge at his elbow and turned around.
    • A small nudge from behind told her it was her turn.
  2. A gentle reminder or encouragement.
    • The app sends a daily nudge to drink more water.
    • Her comment was a subtle nudge for him to apologize.
    • I just need a little nudge to start my homework.
verb
  1. To push someone or something gently, especially with an elbow, to get attention or give a signal.
    • He nudged the cat off the sofa with his foot.
    • I nudged my friend and pointed at the celebrity across the room.
    • She nudged her brother under the table to make him stop talking.
  2. To encourage or persuade someone gently to do something.
    • The teacher nudged the shy student to join the discussion.
    • Her parents nudged her toward a career in medicine.
    • The ad campaign nudged people to recycle more.
  3. To move something slightly or gradually.
    • The stock price nudged higher after the news.
    • She nudged the vase back to the center of the table.
    • He nudged the car forward a few inches in traffic.
Synonyms
Antonyms