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

Noun

• dab
• dig
• jab
• poke

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

Wounding a character in such a blunt way could, in the hand of a middling fiction writer, feel like a cheap lunge at profundity. —Simon Parkin, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025

Norris, in second place for the Drivers' title, attempted to overtake on the main straight, making a desperate lunge on the left of Piastri, but there was no space for the British driver to go. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025

Verb

The 27-year-old Tatum’s injury came during the Celtics Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks while Tatum lunged for a loose ball. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

When the shooter pointed a gun directly at John Hoffman, the senator lunged at the gunman, and he was shot nine times, according to the statement. —Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

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)