groundswell

noun

ground·​swell ˈgrau̇nd-ˌswel How to pronounce groundswell (audio)
1
usually ground swell : a broad deep undulation of the ocean caused by an often distant gale or seismic disturbance
2
: a rapid spontaneous growth (as of political opinion)
a groundswell of support

Examples of groundswell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Gillespie’s measure is part of a groundswell of legislative and voter pushback against reforms initiated over the past four years after the police killings of Black Americans including Nichols, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Tom Jackman, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 And Utahns are buying up low-water grass seed and ripping out their lawns in a groundswell of involvement. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Feb. 2024 Like many of the other authors, King felt rushed to keep up with the groundswell of support for land acknowledgements, and didn’t have the benefit of time to think them through. Hazlitt, 17 Jan. 2024 The organizer of the groundswell to save the bakery was small business owner and nurse Danielle Bender, who has been ordering all her cakes from Erika Landi for 12 years — since way back when Landi baked at home with a cottage industry license. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2024 But since then, as different firms have splintered off in new directions, the initial groundswell has tapered too, making the plans even harder to implement. Jane Thier, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2024 None of the groups targeted by Iran and Pakistan can claim to represent a majority groundswell of Baluch public opinion. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024 Amid a groundswell of public fascination with AI, guest filmmakers and scientists consider the science and technology of machine learning and the range of imaginative, dystopian, and sometimes prophetic narratives that storytellers have put forth in exploring it. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2024 News of the special commendation comes amid a groundswell of acclaim for the quartet. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'groundswell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of groundswell was in 1786

Dictionary Entries Near groundswell

Cite this Entry

“Groundswell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groundswell. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ground swell

noun
: a broad deep ocean swell caused by a distant storm or earthquake
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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