surge

[ surj ]

noun

1. a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep:

   the onward surge of an angry mob.

2. a strong, swelling, wavelike volume or body of something:

   a billowing surge of smoke.

3. a sudden, strong increase or burst:

   a surge of energy; surges of emotion.

4. Military. a significant increase in the number of troops deployed to an area.
5. the rolling swell of the sea.
6. the swelling and rolling sea:

   The surge crashed against the rocky coast.

7. a swelling wave; billow.
8. Meteorology.
   1. a widespread change in atmospheric pressure that is in addition to cyclonic and normal diurnal changes.
   2. storm surge.
9. Electricity.
   1. a sudden rush or burst of current or voltage.
   2. a violent oscillatory disturbance.
10. Nautical. a slackening or slipping back, as of a rope or cable.
11. Machinery.
    1. an uneven flow and strong momentum given to a fluid, as water in a tank, resulting in a rapid, temporary rise in pressure.
    2. pulsating unevenness of motion in an engine or gas turbine.

verb (used without object)

, surged, surg·ing.

1. (of a ship) to rise and fall, toss about, or move along on the waves:

   to surge at anchor.

2. to rise, roll, move, or swell forward in or like waves:

   The sea surged against the shore. The crowd surged back and forth.

3. to rise as if by a heaving or swelling force:

   Blood surged to his face.

4. Electricity.
   1. to increase suddenly, as current or voltage.
   2. to oscillate violently.
5. Nautical.
   1. to slack off or loosen a rope or cable around a capstan or windlass.
   2. to slip back, as a rope.
6. Machinery. to move with pulsating unevenness, as something driven by an engine or gas turbine.

verb (used with object)

, surged, surg·ing.

1. to cause to surge or roll in or as in waves.
2. Nautical. to slacken (a rope).

surge

/ sɜːdʒ /

noun

1. a strong rush or sweep; sudden increase

   a surge of anger

2. the rolling swell of the sea, esp after the passage of a large wave
3. a heavy rolling motion or sound

   the surge of the trumpets

4. an undulating rolling surface, as of hills
5. a billowing cloud or volume
6. nautical a temporary release or slackening of a rope or cable
7. a large momentary increase in the voltage or current in an electric circuit
8. an upward instability or unevenness in the power output of an engine
9. astronomy a short-lived disturbance, occurring during the eruption of a solar flare

verb

1. intr (of waves, the sea, etc) to rise or roll with a heavy swelling motion
2. intr to move like a heavy sea
3. nautical to slacken or temporarily release (a rope or cable) from a capstan or (of a rope, etc) to be slackened or released and slip back
4. intr (of an electric current or voltage) to undergo a large momentary increase
5. rare.
   tr to cause to move in or as if in a wave or waves

surge

/ sûrj /

1. A coastal rise in water level caused by wind.

Derived Forms

• ˈsurgeless, adjective
• ˈsurger, noun

Other Words From

• un·surging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surge¹

First recorded in 1480–90; perhaps from Latin surgere “to arise, stand up,” contracted from surrigere, from sur- sur- ²( def ) + -rigere, combining form of regere “to make straight, guide, rule”

Word History and Origins

Origin of surge¹

C15: from Latin surgere to rise, from sub- up + regere to lead

Example Sentences

At times, there are crushes as those waiting surge forward.

From BBC

The number of crossings this year is still below those seen in 2022, when a surge in late-summer arrivals took numbers to record levels.

From BBC

A small drop in gasoline prices helped fuel the traffic surge.

From Los Angeles Times

It brought widespread impacts including a destructive storm surge and an outbreak of 46 tornadoes.

From BBC

The dramatic surge in hoax threats had wreaked havoc on flight schedules, causing widespread disruption in services.

From BBC

Related Words

• deluge
• flood
• flow
• growth
• outpouring
• rise
• swell
• upsurge
• wave