bulging

adjective bulg·ing \ ˈbəl-jiŋ also ˈbu̇l- \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of bulging

1 : swelling or thrusting out from a surrounding or adjacent surface : protuberant

bulging eyes

bulging muscles

2 : swollen with contents

bulging pockets

a bulging wallet

There were cardboard boxes piled up on the curb along with four bulging black plastic bags.
—Sue Grafton

Recent Examples of bulging from the Web

Humans are preprogrammed to want to nurture anything with baby-like features—namely, a big bulging forehead, large, low-set eyes and round cheeks.

— lucy cooke, WSJ, "The Un-Cuddly Truth About Pandas," 6 Apr. 2018
Two years ago, a University of Illinois researcher, inspired by the slashing, dashing underwater warrior, mimicked its bulging eyes to create a camera able to record polarized light and better detect some cancers.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Lost at sea? This camera mimics way shrimp see and might help rescuers find you | Miami Herald," 4 Apr. 2018
Gervais' beaked whales have a slightly bulging forehead and a pronounced, narrow beak.

— National Geographic, "Exclusive: Rare, Mysterious Whales Filmed Professionally for the First Time," 9 Mar. 2018
Alaska’s pervasive and persistent warmth is the result of a bulging ridge in the jet stream that has allowed mild air from the Pacific Ocean to flood the state.

— jason samenow, Washington Post, "Baked Alaska: 49th state is having an insanely warm December," 19 Dec. 2017
The bulging front fenders rise to meet the low hood; high windowsills and lightly contoured exterior door panels accentuate the car’s length while disguising its height.

— drew dorian, Car and Driver, "2017 Chrysler 300," 12 Sep. 2017
The bulging front fenders rise to meet the low hood

— drew dorian, Car and Driver, "2017 Chrysler 300," 12 Sep. 2017
San Francisco joined main other locations in the surrounding region setting records Friday: The heat came as a result of a bulging area of high pressure or heat dome parked over the Golden State.

— jason samenow, Washington Post, "San Francisco smashes all-time record high temperature, hits 106 degrees," 1 Sep. 2017
Goodwill (not Goodell) can expect a bulging bag of three Chargers shirts, two hats, two throwback jerseys, one hoodie, one pair of sweats, a travel mug, a dog collar and a myriad of memorabilia.

— tom krasovic, sandiegouniontribune.com, "The people speak: Bolts fans still digesting Jan. 12, 2017," 10 May 2017

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