groundswell

[ ground-swel ]

noun

1. a broad, deep swell or rolling of the sea, due to a distant storm or gale.
2. any surge of support, approval, or enthusiasm, especially among the general public:

   a groundswell of political support for the governor.

groundswell

/ ˈɡraʊndˌswɛl /

noun

1. a considerable swell of the sea, often caused by a distant storm or earthquake or by the passage of waves into shallow water
2. a strong public feeling or opinion that is detectable even though not openly expressed

   a groundswell of discontent

Word History and Origins

Origin of groundswell¹

First recorded in 1810–20; ground ¹ + swell

Example Sentences

Even though I’m angry about how things have gone during the war in Gaza, you can’t ignore the groundswell around her.

From Slate

It was just a groundswell of popular support.

From Salon

“They’re probably seeing the same things that you guys are talking about, which is that there is a real groundswell in the early vote, there is real enthusiasm, which is hard to measure,” Hoover noted.

From Salon

“It was just a groundswell of popular support and anyone who thinks otherwise is just a freak and a criminal.”

From Salon

Her groundswell among white survey-takers came mostly from third-party-candidate supporters and people who previously hadn’t planned on voting—not from Trump’s white base, which remained virtually unchanged.

From Slate