: a piece of a substance (such as wood or iron) that tapers to a thin edge and is used for splitting wood and rocks, raising heavy bodies, or for tightening by being driven into something
2
a
: something (such as a policy) causing a breach or separation
b
: something used to initiate an action or development
3
: something wedge-shaped: such as
a
: an array of troops or tanks in the form of a wedge
b
: the wedge-shaped stroke in cuneiform characters
c
: a shoe having a heel extending from the back of the shoe to the front of the shank and a tread formed by an extension of the sole
d
: an iron golf club with a broad low-angled face for maximum loft
Noun
He used a wedge to split the firewood.
A wedge held the door open.
The battalion formed a wedge and marched toward the enemy. Verb
She wedged her foot into the crack.
The dog got wedged between the couch and the end table.
I wedged myself into the car's back seat.
She wedged the door open.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Wear the wide-leg, loose-fitting style with flat sandals as an everyday look or dress them up with wedges.—Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024 Slice it in half, then juice one portion and cut the other half into slices or wedges to use as a garnish.—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2024
Verb
It is wedged on 42 acres on the east edge of downtown.—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 May 2024 The Terps are wedged between two NFL franchises and the U.S. Naval Academy.—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 15 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wedge
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wedge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English wegge, from Old English wecg; akin to Old High German wecki wedge, Lithuanian vagis
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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