Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for surge on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
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. Show More
verb (used with object), surged, surg·ing. to cause to surge or roll in or as in waves. Nautical to slacken (a rope). Show More
Origin of surge 1480–90; perhaps < Latin surgere to spring up, arise, stand up
Related forms un·surg·ing , adjective Can be confused serge surge Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for surged stream ,
swell ,
rise ,
flow ,
climb ,
grow ,
deluge ,
sluice ,
mount ,
billow ,
undulate ,
pour ,
swirl ,
eddy ,
gush ,
arise ,
ripple ,
tower ,
heave ,
roll Examples from the Web for surged Contemporary Examples of surged Hordes of celebrants, swept by rain, surged over the five-year-old Brooklyn Bridge.
The response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa has surged in the past few weeks, delivering more money, supplies, and doctors.
Tonalist, with his fresh legs, surged past Commissioner to take the race by a nose.
Independents have surged from 15 percent to over 20 percent.
And as each conference has surged , there has been a different effect on the economy.
Historical Examples of surged Instantly, Martin's cordiality vanished; his hostility toward her surged .
Dust Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
How we surged and panted, and fought one another for our sacred lives!
Roma was lifted off her feet by the breaker of human beings201 that surged around.
Again the thoughts surged and surged , and the past intruded itself!
It burned and surged from my trembling fingers into the flesh of her forearm.
British Dictionary definitions for surged a strong rush or sweep; sudden increase a surge of anger the rolling swell of the sea, esp after the passage of a large wave a heavy rolling motion or sound the 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 Show More
(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 Show More
Derived Forms surgeless , adjective surger , 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
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Word Origin and History for surged n. 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.
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v. 1510s, from surge (n.). Related: Surged ; surging .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
A coastal rise in water level caused by wind. Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
