lunge

1 of 2

noun

ˈlənj 

1

: a quick thrust or jab (as of a sword) usually made by leaning or striding forward

2

: a sudden forward rush or reach

made a lunge to catch the ball

3

: an exercise in which a person in a standing position steps forward into a position in which the front knee is deeply bent while keeping the torso erect and then returns back to the starting position

also : a similar exercise in which the initial movement is to the side rather than forward

Note: A lunge can be done while holding weights or without weights.

lunge

2 of 2

verb

lunged; lunging

intransitive verb

1

: to make a lunge : move with or as if with a lunge

2

: to perform a lunge exercise (see lunge entry 1 sense 3)

transitive verb

: to thrust or propel (something, such as a blow) in a lunge

Synonyms

Noun

• dab
• dig
• jab
• poke

Examples of lunge in a Sentence

Noun

He made a lunge at me with his knife.

He made a desperate lunge for the ball.

Verb

He lunged at me with his knife.

She lunged across the table.

The crocodile lunged at its prey.

The dog lunged for his throat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here's how to do a reverse lunge with a side bend: Start standing with your feet together. —Mallory Creveling, Health, 19 June 2024

Related article Alleviate the ache and strengthen your knees with the reverse lunge The participants were assigned one of three exercise programs for a year. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 18 June 2024

Verb

But just as the bear turns to go, the worker approaches with a large pot of what can only be assumed to be more gumbo, and the creature quickly lunges at her with its paws up in the air. —Evan Rosen, New York Daily News, 21 June 2024

Video footage provided by the Sheriff’s Department shows a man identified as Jackson lunging toward the deputy with a knife in his hand and pulling the deputy to the ground, where the two get into a struggle until they’re separated by other deputies. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

modification of French allonge extension, reach, from Old French alonge, from alongier to lengthen, from Vulgar Latin *allongare, from Latin ad- ad- + Late Latin longare, from Latin longus long

First Known Use

Noun

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1772, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

lunge

1 of 2 noun

ˈlənj 

1

: a sudden stretching thrust or pass (as with a sword)

2

: a sudden forward rush or reach

lunge

2 of 2 verb

lunged; lunging

1

: to move with or as if with a lunge

2

: to make a lunge (as with a sword)