groundswell

noun

ground·​swell ˈgrau̇nd-ˌswel How to pronounce groundswell (audio)
1
usually ground swell : a broad deep undulation of the ocean caused by an often distant gale or seismic disturbance
2
: a rapid spontaneous growth (as of political opinion)
a groundswell of support

Examples of groundswell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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And then, of course, there is the groundswell of users who have taken to platforms such as Reddit and TikTok to complain that their accounts have been suspended or deleted without cause. Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 But the shooting death of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson last December, which prosecutors allege was carried out by a gunman who was motived by insurance denials, unleashed a groundswell of public criticism of health insurers’ practices. Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 28 July 2025 Early in his second term, Trump seemed to hope for a groundswell of annexationist sentiment north of the border. Stephen Maher, Time, 27 May 2025 The groundswell behind Collins has only deepened the divide, signaling that much of the party’s infrastructure is siding against the governor. Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for groundswell

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of groundswell was in 1786

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Cite this Entry

“Groundswell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groundswell. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

ground swell

noun
: a broad deep ocean swell caused by a distant storm or earthquake
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