surge

[ surj ]

/ sɜrdʒ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR surge ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep: the onward surge of an angry mob.

a strong, swelling, wavelike volume or body of something: a billowing surge of smoke.

a sudden, strong increase or burst: a surge of energy; surges of emotion.

Military. a significant increase in the number of troops deployed to an area.

the rolling swell of the sea.

the swelling and rolling sea: The surge crashed against the rocky coast.

a swelling wave; billow.

Meteorology.

a widespread change in atmospheric pressure that is in addition to cyclonic and normal diurnal changes.
storm surge.

Electricity.

a sudden rush or burst of current or voltage.
a violent oscillatory disturbance.

Nautical. a slackening or slipping back, as of a rope or cable.

Machinery.

an uneven flow and strong momentum given to a fluid, as water in a tank, resulting in a rapid, temporary rise in pressure.
pulsating unevenness of motion in an engine or gas turbine.

verb (used without object), surged, surg·ing.

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

to rise, roll, move, or swell forward in or like waves: The sea surged against the shore. The crowd surged back and forth.

to rise as if by a heaving or swelling force: Blood surged to his face.

Electricity.

to increase suddenly, as current or voltage.
to oscillate violently.

Nautical.

to slack off or loosen a rope or cable around a capstan or windlass.
to slip back, as a rope.

Machinery. to move with pulsating unevenness, as something driven by an engine or gas turbine.

verb (used with object), surged, surg·ing.

to cause to surge or roll in or as in waves.

Nautical. to slacken (a rope).

Nearby words

Origin of surge

1480–90; perhaps < Latin surgere to spring up, arise, stand up

Related formsun·surg·ing, adjective

Can be confusedserge surge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for surge

The U.S. launched campaigns in the restive Iraqi city of Fallujah and a surge campaign in Baghdad.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“People are generally diplomatic,” says Steinbrick of regulars dealing with the surge of new faces.
How to Survive the New Year ‘Gympocalypse’|Tim Teeman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Uber responded to the PR nightmare by reversing the surge, refunding those affected, and doling out free rides.
In Defense of Uber’s Awful Sydney Surge Pricing|Olivia Nuzzi|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As more states move to pass legalization legislation, their role in the narrative will likely surge.
Women Are Leading the Way for Legalized Weed|Abby Haglage|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Ergo, DAPA will cause another surge—and that future surge will likewise prove burdensome to Texas.
The New Texas Governor’s Cynical Immigration Threat|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One glance into those coldly watchful eyes was sufficient to subdue any surge of compassion.
Men in War|Andreas Latzko
Whence came all the faiths but from that inexplicable feeling of the heart, that surge and swell arising we know not whence?
The Hearts of Men|H. Fielding
At this a kind of madness began to surge up in Jan Laurvik's overtaxed brain.
The Haunters of the Silences|Charles G. D. Roberts
The Lhari ships hit 12 gravities in the first surge of acceleration.
The Colors of Space|Marion Zimmer Bradley
This, he thought with a surge of hope, was going to work out after all.
The Best Made Plans|Everett B. Cole

British Dictionary definitions for surge

surge

/ (sɜːdʒ) /

noun

a strong rush or sweep; sudden increasea surge of anger

the rolling swell of the sea, esp after the passage of a large wave

a heavy rolling motion or soundthe surge of the trumpets

an undulating rolling surface, as of hills

a billowing cloud or volume

nautical a temporary release or slackening of a rope or cable

a large momentary increase in the voltage or current in an electric circuit

an upward instability or unevenness in the power output of an engine

astronomy a short-lived disturbance, occurring during the eruption of a solar flare

verb

(intr) (of waves, the sea, etc) to rise or roll with a heavy swelling motion

(intr) to move like a heavy sea

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

(intr) (of an electric current or voltage) to undergo a large momentary increase

(tr) rare to cause to move in or as if in a wave or waves

Derived Formssurgeless, adjectivesurger, noun

Word Origin for surge

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

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

Word Origin and History for surge

surge

late 15c., "fountain, stream," probably from Middle French sourge-, stem of sourdre "to rise, swell," from Latin surgere "to rise," contraction of surrigere "to rise," from sub "up from below" + regere "to keep straight, guide" (see regal). Meaning "high, rolling swell of water" is from 1520s; figurative sense of "excited rising up" (as of feelings) is from 1510s.