badger
verb/ˈbædʒə(r)/
/ˈbædʒər/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they badger | /ˈbædʒə(r)/ /ˈbædʒər/ |
| he / she / it badgers | /ˈbædʒəz/ /ˈbædʒərz/ |
| past simple badgered | /ˈbædʒəd/ /ˈbædʒərd/ |
| past participle badgered | /ˈbædʒəd/ /ˈbædʒərd/ |
| -ing form badgering | /ˈbædʒərɪŋ/ /ˈbædʒərɪŋ/ |
- to put pressure on somebody by repeatedly asking them questions or asking them to do something synonym pester
- badger somebody (into doing something) I finally badgered him into coming with us.
- badger somebody about something Reporters constantly badger her about her private life.
- badger somebody to do something His daughter was always badgering him to let her join the club.
Word Originearly 16th cent.: perhaps from badge, with reference to its distinctive head markings. The verb sense (late 18th cent.) originates from the now illegal sport of badger-baiting, where dogs draw a badger from its set and kill it.Want to learn more?
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badger