surge

[ surj ]

/ sɜrdʒ /

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See synonyms for: surge / surged / surging 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).

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Origin of surge

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

OTHER WORDS FROM surge

un·surg·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH surge

serge, surge

Words nearby surge

surf scoter, surf smelt, surfy, surf zone, surg., surge, surge chamber, surgeon, surgeoncy, surgeonfish, surgeon general

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use surge in a sentence

For all its benefits, the much-vaunted surge in digital advertising has come at a cost.
‘Chronically understaffed’: Confessions of an agency exec on the cost of online advertising’s Covid growth|Seb Joseph|February 11, 2021|Digiday
There was a “big surge of reader interest with the pandemic and the election,” Pasick said.
The New York Times aims to convert newsletter readers into paid subscribers as The Morning newsletter tops 1 billion opens|Sara Guaglione|February 10, 2021|Digiday
Several users Recode spoke to said that in recent weeks, the platform has seen a surge in people desperate for more information on where and how to get vaccinated, and neighbors trading information about how to find an available dose.
How the Covid-19 pandemic broke Nextdoor|Rebecca Heilweil|February 9, 2021|Vox
There might only be six to 12 weeks before the new variant triggers another surge.
A virus locomotive is heading straight at us|Editorial Board|February 8, 2021|Washington Post

This pattern suggests there is more to the story than retail investors buying shares and holding them through the stock surge, said Shapiro, the Georgetown policy fellow.
How the rich got richer: Reddit trading frenzy benefited Wall Street elite|Douglas MacMillan, Yeganeh Torbati|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
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
The quality of the music is a major factor in this recent surge.
Down With the King: Christianity Isn’t Hiding in Rap’s Closet|Stereo Williams|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“When I first met her I felt this tremendous surge of power,” he explained.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|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
It was a question whether the mutineers would not surge over it in triumph within the hour.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
A fearsome struggle would surge around that tower where the British flag was flying.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
But meanwhile the keeper has shouted for a fresh set of bears, who surge wildly into the room.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 158, April 28, 1920|Various
Joe saw her slim against the light, and his thoughts were like the sea surge, wild, unruly.
The Man from Time|Frank Belknap Long
At one hundred feet in depth, the passage of the surge would be strong enough to urge considerable pebbles before it.
Outlines of the Earth's History|Nathaniel Southgate Shaler

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 forms of surge

surgeless, 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

Scientific definitions for surge

surge

[ sûrj ]

A coastal rise in water level caused by wind.

surge

Origin of surge

OTHER WORDS FROM surge

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH surge

Words nearby surge

Words related to surge

How to use surge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for surge

Derived forms of surge

Word Origin for surge

Scientific definitions for surge