upsurge

noun

up·​surge ˈəp-ˌsərj How to pronounce upsurge (audio)
: a rapid or sudden rise
an upsurge in interest

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An upsurge in drug use sometimes leads to an upsurge in crime. An upsurge of flu cases can be cause for alarm. And an upsurge of fury at overpaid CEOs might lead to new legislation to restrain high salaries. We seem to use upsurge more in negative contexts than in positive ones, but not always; we usually welcome an upsurge of consumer confidence, an upsurge in new-car sales, or an upsurge in the stock market.

Examples of upsurge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The upsurge of Chinese repression and aggression, in turn, will further impel the United States and its allies to shun Beijing and build a democratic order. Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2022 But the official results trickling in Sunday showed that mounting complaints in Uruguay about years of sluggish economic growth, stagnant wages and the government's struggle to stem an upsurge in violent crime helped to swing the election against Delgado's party. Nayara Batschke The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2024 Coco Gauff also said goodbye to Brad Gilbert and despite an initial upsurge in form immediately afterwards, the technical deficiencies on serve continue to be egregious. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 The upsurge of generative AI demand has coincided with a push to find more efficient cooling solutions in data centers, particularly liquid cooling — a process in which water is used to lower the temperatures of servers and other electronic equipment. Sam Meredith, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for upsurge 

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of upsurge was in 1917

Dictionary Entries Near upsurge

Cite this Entry

“Upsurge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upsurge. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

upsurge

noun
up·​surge ˈəp-ˌsərj How to pronounce upsurge (audio)
: a rapid or sudden rise
an upsurge of popularity

More from Merriam-Webster on upsurge

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