bulge

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

Synonyms of bulge

• protrude
• poke

Examples of bulge in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

And, soon, the OCFA crew learns that one of three storage tanks at the plant — one that contains the chemical methyl methacrylate, or MMA — is bulging. —Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 2 June 2026

The top of my head had been level with the bulging briefcase the girl had tucked under her arm. —Annie Ernaux, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Next to her is a bulging Balenciaga mini bag, and a pair of oversized sunglasses on her head are perched atop a mop of jet black curls. —Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

That expansion can lead to bulging eyes, double vision and related challenges. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bolgen

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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

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