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nudge out

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To slowly or gently push someone out of a position or first place.

Literal meaning: To nudge (gently push) something so it moves out.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To defeat a competitor by a very small margin.

"She nudged out her nearest rival by just three votes to win the student election."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral

To gradually displace something from a position, market, or role.

"Streaming services have slowly nudged out physical DVD sales over the past decade."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Used in sports, politics, and business to describe narrow victories or gradual displacement. The gentleness implied by 'nudge' distinguishes it from more forceful synonyms.

Commonly used with

rival competitor incumbent leader top spot first place

Forms

Base
nudge out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
nudges out
he/she/it
Past simple
nudged out
yesterday
Past participle
nudged out
have + pp
-ing form
nudging out
continuous

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