lunge
1 Americannoun
verb (used without object)
-
lunges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
lunged,
past participle, past
-
lunging
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
lunges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
lunged,
past participle, past
-
lunging
present participle
noun
noun
-
a sudden forward motion
-
fencing a thrust made by advancing the front foot and straightening the back leg, extending the sword arm forwards
verb
-
to move or cause to move with a lunge
-
(intr) fencing to make a lunge
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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lungesimple
-
lungessimple
-
have lungedperfect
-
has lungedperfect
-
am lungingprogressive
-
are lungingprogressive
-
is lungingprogressive
-
have been lungingperfect progressive
-
has been lungingperfect progressive
Past
-
lungedsimple
-
had lungedperfect
-
was lungingprogressive
-
were lungingprogressive
-
had been lungingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of lunge1
1725–35; earlier longe for French allonge (noun; construed as a longe ), allonger (v.) to lengthen, extend, deliver (blows) < Vulgar Latin *allongāre, for Late Latin ēlongāre to elongate
Origin of lunge2
Explanation
To lunge is to move forward suddenly, often in a thrusting manner. A parent might lunge to grab a runaway child. Lunging is not usually a graceful movement. A lunge is quick and desperate. If it suddenly rains, people will lunge to get under an awning. In football, when the ball is hiked, the linemen lunge at each other. Lunging always involves moving forward.
Vocabulary lists containing lunge
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Fearing for his passengers, he made a desperate lunge and opened the cockpit door, allowing rescuers to burst in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Just when it looked like the evening's pantomime villain would be an unlikely match-winner, White was penalised for a lunge on Federico Vinas in stoppage time.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026
Receivers who lunge and cradle in the air have nowhere to go.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026
Witnesses have said he did not lunge at officers or pose an immediate threat.
From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2026
When my pup was about two feet from him, he made a lunge.
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
Jeffrey Maier, a 12-year-old Yankees fan, lunged over the fence and deflected the ball into the seats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Elsewhere, a staff member lunged towards a toddler-sized robot in a T-shirt that threatened to knock into a human child.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
Shortly after Lowry lunged towards the fan on the 10th tee, one of these reminders was booed by the American fans around the 11th green.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2025
The dog, who had been calm up until that point, excitedly lunged for her dessert.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025
Hazel lunged forward, feeling Jack slip out of her arms.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
All of a sudden, Bass was a staggering champion lunging at a revived Raman, who swung and stung and ducked the way only a hungry up-and-comer can.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
But some physicians say the tech isn’t ready to replace human judgment and companies are lunging into medical AI services.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
With the game still scoreless in the 29th minute, Romero -- who has been vocal in his criticism of Tottenham's owners lately -- was dismissed after lunging in to catch Casemiro on the ankle.
From Barron's ● Feb. 7, 2026
For Safdie, that process entails going to a vulnerable place with his composer, lunging for the feelings as best he can.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025
He tries to psych Josh out, lunging for a hit but really just moving the foil tip slightly while all the time bouncing.
From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Hyrox sees participants alternate between running a kilometre and doing fitness exercises, including a sled push, burpee jumps, indoor rowing, and lunges while carrying a sandbag.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
Strength training included exercises using weights or body weight, such as press ups, squats, and lunges.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026
He has them doing hip thrusts, banded side lunges, goblet curtsy squats and cable kickbacks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
But it doesn’t matter, just grab your best tight denim and thick leatherware and enter Club Bahia’s famed “Summer in Van Nuys Room,” for a night of pure heat, lunges and Nama-staying hydrated.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2026
They made two or three lunges toward the hound, but the wire held.
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
