lunge

1 of 2

noun

ˈlənj 

1

: a quick thrust or jab (as of a sword) usually made by leaning or striding forward

2

: a sudden forward rush or reach

made a lunge to catch the ball

3

: an exercise in which a person in a standing position steps forward into a position in which the front knee is deeply bent while keeping the torso erect and then returns back to the starting position

also : a similar exercise in which the initial movement is to the side rather than forward

Note: A lunge can be done while holding weights or without weights.

lunge

2 of 2

verb

lunged; lunging

intransitive verb

1

: to make a lunge : move with or as if with a lunge

2

: to perform a lunge exercise (see lunge entry 1 sense 3)

transitive verb

: to thrust or propel (something, such as a blow) in a lunge

Synonyms of lunge

Noun

• jab
• punch

Examples of lunge in a Sentence

Noun

He made a lunge at me with his knife.

He made a desperate lunge for the ball.

Verb

He lunged at me with his knife.

She lunged across the table.

The crocodile lunged at its prey.

The dog lunged for his throat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Then activate and mobilize with movements such as walking lunges with reaching and rotating, lateral lunges, step-ups and step-downs. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

But as others have taken steps or even lunges back, Okamoto has been a steadying force. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

Around 10 minutes later, Pinkney lunged at a man walking a dog with his girlfriend at the northeast corner of Central Park, narrowly missing him with his knife, according to court papers. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

On the try for 2, Weigman took off to the left and lunged forward with the ball extended, though his knee came down before the ball broke the plane of the end zone. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

modification of French allonge extension, reach, from Old French alonge, from alongier to lengthen, from Vulgar Latin *allongare, from Latin ad- ad- + Late Latin longare, from Latin longus long

First Known Use

Noun

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1772, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for lunge

• plunge
• sponge
• expunge
• muskellunge

Kids Definition

lunge

1 of 2 noun

ˈlənj 

1

: a sudden stretching thrust or pass (as with a sword)

2

: a sudden forward rush or reach

lunge

2 of 2 verb

lunged; lunging

1

: to move with or as if with a lunge

2

: to make a lunge (as with a sword)