bulge

1 of 2

verb

ˈbəlj 

 also  ˈbu̇lj

bulged; bulging; bulges

intransitive verb

1

a

: to jut out : swell

b

: to become swollen or protuberant

… a pair of arresting pale blue eyes that tend to bulge maniacally …

—Jeremy Egner

c

: to bend outward

prevent the brick wall from bulging

2

: to be filled to overflowing

a notebook that bulged with ideas

3

archaic : bilge

transitive verb

: to cause to bulge

bulge

2 of 2

noun

plural bulges

1

: a protuberant or swollen part or place

a bulge in the wall

trying to get rid of the bulge around his middle

2

: sudden expansion

a population bulge

3

: advantage, upper hand

letting them get the bulge on you

4

a

: bilge sense 1

the bulge of a barrel

b

nautical : bilge sense 2

bulgy

ˈbəl-jē 

 also  ˈbu̇l-

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• protrude
• poke

Noun

• protrusion
• projection
• swell
• protuberance
• dome
• section
• overhang
• convexity
• portion

Choose the Right Synonym for bulge

projection, protrusion, protuberance, bulge mean an extension beyond the normal line or surface.

projection implies a jutting out especially at a sharp angle.

those projections along the wall are safety hazards

protrusion suggests a thrusting out so that the extension seems a deformity.

the bizarre protrusions of a coral reef

protuberance implies a growing or swelling out in rounded form.

a skin disease marked by warty protuberances

bulge suggests an expansion caused by internal pressure.

bulges in the tile floor

Examples of bulge in a Sentence

Verb

His face turned white and his eyes bulged.

middle-aged people bulging at the waist

Their bags bulged with books and papers.

The squirrel's cheeks were bulging with nuts.

a notebook bulging with ideas

Noun

“What's in there?” he asked, pointing to the large bulge in my purse.

I'm exercising to get rid of this bulge around my middle.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Both can affect your quality of life: Atherosclerosis can cause heart attacks, strokes, poor blood flow to the legs, or bulging arteries. —Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 20 July 2025

Blount, who appeared wearing a white button-down shirt and tie, his hands shackled in front of him, his bulging gut and beige tie spilling over his beige pants, appeared impassive and refused to meet his victim’s gaze as Rothschild addressed him personally. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 10 July 2025

Noun

Then there are tests for shape aesthetics that involve bow tie evaluation, outline symmetry, and bulges. —Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025

Thurber is a half-inch shorter than Daddy, and his glasses bulge one eye way out like Grandpa’s spectacles did. —John Updike, New Yorker, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bolgen

Noun

Middle English boulge, bouge leather bag, curved part, from Anglo-French bouge bag — more at budget

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Rhymes for bulge

• divulge
• indulge

Kids Definition

bulge

1 of 2 verb

ˈbəlj 

bulged; bulging

1

: to swell, curve outward, or stick out

bulging eyes

2

: to be filled to overflowing

a bulging notebook

bulge

2 of 2 noun

: a part that swells or sticks out

Etymology

Noun

from early French boulge, bouge "leather bag," from Latin bulga "leather bag" — related to budget