onrush

American  

[on-ruhsh, awn-] / ˈɒnˌrʌʃ, ˈɔn- /

noun

1. a strong forward rush, flow, etc.

   Synonyms:

   charge, flood, torrent, onset

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onrush British  

/ ˈɒnˌrʌʃ /

noun

1. a forceful forward rush or flow

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Other Word Forms

• onrushing adjective

Etymology

Origin of onrush

1835–45; on + rush ¹, after the verb phrase rush on

Explanation

When something moves forward in a great surge, it's called an onrush. When a dam breaks during a flood, it causes an onrush of water and you better have your raft at the ready. You can talk about an onrush of sea water spilling over the side of a ship, or the onrush of military troops into a newly seized area, or an onrush of gale force winds during a hurricane. You can also use this noun figuratively, to describe emotions that rise very suddenly: "An onrush of grief made his eyes fill with tears." Onrush probably grew out of the verb phrase "rush on" in the 1840s.

Example Sentences

The islands themselves are an important line of defense when it comes to protecting the coastline from storms, and their marshes absorb the onrush of waters from a storm surge.

From Scientific American • Apr. 6, 2023

Last month, a pre-monsoon flash flood, triggered by an onrush of waters from upstream India’s northeastern states, hit Bangladesh’s northern and northeastern regions, destroying crops and damaging homes and road network vastly.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 17, 2022

To try to compensate for the onrush of new users, Top Shot made lots of new Moments.

From The Verge • Jun. 7, 2022

We voted for Audrey Moore, who tried to slow the onrush of development.

From Washington Post • Mar. 22, 2022

The deep voice thrillingly vibrated; the gesticulating hand implied all space and the onrush of the irresistible machine.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley