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

• jab
• punch

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

Or switch things up and do squats or lunges for one of your high-intensity intervals. —Angela Haupt, Time, 25 July 2025

As the dispute continued, the suspect opened his hatchback, pulled out his pipe, and lunges at the victim, striking him repeatedly in the head and body. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025

Verb

When the man turned around, Jones allegedly lunged toward the man and grabbed his bag, trying to rip it from him, according to the statement. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2025

Mike Yastrzemski made a highlight catch in the eighth inning, lunging over the side wall and into the right-field netting to snag Jack Suwinski’s foul pop fly. —Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 30 July 2025

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

Rhymes for lunge

• plunge
• sponge
• expunge
• muskellunge

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)