surge
surj
Surge (noun) means a sudden, powerful increase or rush. Example: “There was a surge in demand for face masks in 2020.”
noun
1
A sudden, powerful increase or rush.
"There was a surge in demand for face masks in 2020."
"A surge of adrenaline helped her finish the race."
"There was a surge of visitors to the beach when the sun came out."
2
A sudden spike in electrical voltage or current.
"The power surge fried his laptop charger."
"A surge protector guards your television against a sudden surge in the mains supply."
"The storm caused a surge that tripped the fuses in the old house."
verb
1
To increase or move forward suddenly and powerfully.
"Prices surged after the announcement."
"The crowd surged toward the exits."
"Water surged through the gap in the dam after the heavy rain."
How to use surge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden, forceful increase — in emotion, numbers, electricity, or movement.
Common pairings
a surge in prices
power surge
surge forward
a surge of emotion
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Word forms
- Plural
- surges
- Third person singular
- surges
- Past tense
- surged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a _____ in demand for face masks in 2020.
Etymology
From Old French surgir ("to rise, arrive by sea"), ultimately from Latin surgere ("to rise up") — related to "resurgent" and "insurgent".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for surge
See all rhymes for surge →Frequently asked questions
What does “surge” mean?
The word “surge” means a sudden, powerful increase or rush. In plain terms, a sudden, forceful increase — in emotion, numbers, electricity, or movement.
How do you pronounce “surge”?
“Surge” is pronounced surj (/sɝd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “surge” in a sentence?
Here is “surge” used in a sentence: “There was a surge in demand for face masks in 2020.”
What is another word for “surge”?
Words with a similar meaning to “surge” include inrush.
What part of speech is “surge”?
Depending on how it is used, “surge” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “surge” come from?
The word “surge” comes from Latin. From Old French surgir ("to rise, arrive by sea"), ultimately from Latin surgere ("to rise up") — related to "resurgent" and "insurgent".
Is “surge” a common word?
“Surge” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “surge” have?
“Surge” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, powerful increase or rush.
What is the difference between a surge and a spike?
A surge is a sudden, powerful increase or rush, often implying a forceful, sustained push forward, while a spike is a sharp but usually brief and narrow jump in a value before it may fall back down. Both describe sudden increases, but "surge" carries more sense of ongoing momentum than a single sharp peak.
What is a power surge?
A power surge refers to the sense of "surge" meaning a sudden spike in electrical voltage or current, which can potentially damage electronic devices. This is distinct from the more general sense of surge as any sudden, powerful increase.
What is the difference between a surge and a surge protector?
A surge, in the electrical sense, is the sudden spike in voltage or current itself, while a surge protector is a device designed to guard equipment against that spike. The protector reacts to and limits the surge rather than being the surge itself.
