bulge

verb

\ˈbəlj also ˈbu̇lj

bulged; bulging

Definition of bulge

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

: to cause to bulge

intransitive verb

1 archaic : bilge

2a : to jut out : swell

b : to bend outward prevent the brick wall from bulging

c : to become swollen or protuberant … a pair of arresting pale blue eyes that tend to bulge maniacally …— Jeremy Egner

3 : to be filled to overflowing a notebook that bulged with ideas

bulge

noun

Definition of bulge (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : bilge sense 1 the bulge of a barrel

b nautical : bilge sense 2

2 : a protuberant or swollen part or place a bulge in the wall trying to get rid of the bulge around his middle

3 : advantage, upper hand letting them get the bulge on you

4 : sudden expansion a population bulge

Other Words from bulge Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about bulge

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Choose the Right Synonym for bulge

Noun

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

Thank you for keeping those biceps bulging and those abs flat beneath that elegant existential gray T-shirt, despite having reached 66 years of age. — Doug Maccash, NOLA.com, "Sting: Every move you made at Jazz Fest 2018 was great," 27 Apr. 2018 The intriguing information about the heated rock bulging up deep beneath New England’s surface led Long and her colleagues to publish their findings in the scientific journal Geology. — Gregory B. Hladky, courant.com, "New Research Discovers Surprising Seismic Activity Under New England," 26 June 2018 There's not much in the way of pain, leaking or bulging when working out my core. — Elissa Strauss, CNN, "The enduring mystery of the postpartum pooch," 4 May 2018 Agent 47 started the level looking like the scariest tourist the world's ever seen, bulging muscles barely contained by a white polo shirt. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "Hands-on: Hitman 2's murderous puzzle sandbox lets you wield fish as a weapon," 14 June 2018 Two years later, Gulbis had the same surgery to treat bulging discs and found better results. — Angel Guerrero, sacbee, "Sacramento's Natalie Gulbis on LPGA comeback trail – and has a tee time with Steph Curry," 29 June 2018 Get Out, yes, but also Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, a wildly successful action-comedy that had audiences laughing at the spectacle of a timid white teen entering the body of bulging bad-ass Dwayne Johnson. — Gary Thompson, Philly.com, "Art in melting pot America: What's appropriation and what's appropriate? New movies explore," 6 July 2018 And in 2014, as goal after agonizing Germany goal bulged the Brazil net in Belo Horizonte, the fans started to chant a graphic and crude insult at Dilma Rousseff, the unpopular former president. — Martin Rogers, USA TODAY, "'Brazil's Donald Trump': World Cup fate impacts far-right presidential candidate," 6 July 2018 The Orioles gave Markakis a four-year, $40 million offer early in the offseason, but that deal came off the table when an MRI showed a bulging disk in his neck. — Eduardo A. Encina, baltimoresun.com, "Former Orioles slugger Nelson Cruz showing he was worth the risk of a four-year deal," 26 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Aesthetically, the loose-fitting zones always make my pedantic eyes bulge. — Steven Strom, Ars Technica, "Frostpunk review: Urban planning at the end of the world," 24 Apr. 2018 This bulge in the population is expected to increase demands for both senior housing, which often includes independent and assisted-living programs, and medical office real estate. — Keiko Morris, WSJ, "Real-Estate Firm Targets Aging Baby Boomers," 29 May 2018 The bulge has brought hot and humid conditions from the Plains to the East with temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average from the Great Lakes into the Northeast. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati weather: Why is it so hot? Blame the heat dome," 5 July 2018 The heat is due to a strong upper-level ridge of high pressure, or northward bulge in the jet stream, that's expanded into much of the eastern U.S., weather.com reported. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "Get used to it: Heat wave will continue to scorch eastern US this week," 2 July 2018 Julius Caesar had 'crazy bulge' on his head new 3D reconstruction shows. — Fox News, "FOX NEWS FIRST: Immigration bill optimism; US wish list for N. Korea; Left temper tantrum targets Trump staffers," 25 June 2018 Provided their spacecraft stays healthy and funded, the Juno team is contemplating additional measurements that could further probe Jupiter’s interior, such as monitoring tidal bulges raised by large moons whipping around the planet. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, "Juno Peers Deep into Jupiter's Abyss to Reveal Weird Winds," 7 Mar. 2018 The bulge turned out to be a package of drugs wrapped in individual doses seemingly ready for sale. — Maya Dukmasova, Chicago Reader, "The trials of Stuart V. Goldberg, Chicago’s flashiest defense attorney," 23 Jan. 2018 In this condition, the large artery leaving the heart (aorta) develops a weak area that bulges and may burst. — Joe Graedon, M.s., And Teresa Graedon, Houston Chronicle, "Natural approaches may ease white fingers of Raynaud’s," 17 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bulge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.