groundswell

[ ground-swel ]
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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.

Origin of groundswell

1
First recorded in 1810–20; ground1 + swell

Words Nearby groundswell

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use groundswell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for groundswell

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012