To save this word, you'll need to log in.
\ ˈlənj 
\
\Definition of lunge
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
verblunged; lunging
Definition of lunge (Entry 2 of 2)
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)
: to thrust or propel (something, such as a blow) in a lunge
Keep scrolling for more
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Right Now Her workouts consist of the leg-toning essentials: weighted traditional squats, Sumo squads, lunges and dead lifts.
—
Hanna Flanagan, PEOPLE.com, "Carrie Underwood on Refocusing Her Fitness Routine: 'It's Less About Trying to Stay Thin'," 23 Dec. 2019 Some functional exercises that strengthen and stabilize the core might not even seem like abs work, like squats, deadlifts, and lunges.
—
Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, "You Honestly Never Have to Do Crunches Again, According to Science and Experts," 18 Dec. 2019 Beginner modification: Take out the leg lift and perform a standard backwards lunge.
—
Stephanie Mansour, NBC News, "A 5-minute lower body workout to tone your glutes and thighs," 4 Mar. 2020 Staring at a double-digit deficit for the first time all night, Pasadena made one last lunge at the Ponies, scoring six straight points and a timeout with 67 seconds remaining.
—
Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "Eagles unable to give Kingwood sour sendoff from 22-6A after 57-48 loss," 4 Feb. 2020 This entire getup seems to exist solely for fitness tracking, as the single demo showed a virtual fitness instructor walking the presenter through some lunges.
—
Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, "Samsung’s CES vaporware keynote details AR glasses, fitness exoskeleton," 7 Jan. 2020 Randall Margraves, left, lunges at Larry Nassar, bottom right, during Nassar's third and final sentencing hearing in February 2018.
—
Cnn Staff, CNN, "CNN's top 100 digital stories of 2019," 22 Dec. 2019 Rodney Hood’s impressive season had ended a couple hours beforehand, when an innocuous rebound, pivot and lunge forward resulted in a season-ending ruptured left Achilles tendon.
—
oregonlive, "Rodney Hood’s sacrifice and smile suffer setback: Portland Trail Blazers’ forward lost for season with Achilles injury," 7 Dec. 2019 Officers from multiple agencies then surround him and eventually a K9 lunges and gets a mouthful of his clothing.
—
Washington Post, "Ex-North Carolina trooper pleads guilty in arrest beating," 13 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Even more exciting, is seeing a wake or boil from a lunging muskie.
—
Ben Romans, Outdoor Life, "Want to Catch a Muskie on a Fly Rod? Never Give Up," 13 Mar. 2020 Sanchez-Lopez cornered victim tellers behind the counters and either pointed his knife at them, banged it against the counter or lunged towards the tellers, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brassell.
—
oregonlive, "Robber who leapt over bank counters, linked to six holdups sentenced to more than 8 yrs in prison," 4 Feb. 2020 Harrison said Feggins lunged at officers with a gun, causing them to fall to the ground and wrestle over the weapon.
—
Jessica Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore police officers who shot and killed man during an apparent struggle over a gun are identified," 4 Nov. 2019 More words were exchanged between the two before Savage lunged at the phone, with Instagram recording the entire altercation.
—
Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, "R. Kelly’s Girlfriends Got In A Fight On Instagram Live & Now The Police Are Involved," 9 Jan. 2020 Video of the incident circulated on social media showed Cardi B lunging toward someone and being held back at Harper's Bazaar Icons party.
—
Rasha Ali, USA TODAY, "Biggest and beefiest celebrity feuds of the decade, yes, including Kanye West and Taylor Swift," 21 Dec. 2019 The free-to-use facilities are one way that communities such as Hyattsville are helping their citizens squat, push-up and lunge toward healthier living.
—
Morgan Voigt, The Know, "Free outdoor gyms help towns lunge toward healthier living," 5 Oct. 2019 Prosecutors allege that Redondo lunged at one of the teenagers in an attempt to push him into traffic.
—
Los Angeles Times, "Orange County woman charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to throw boy off bridge," 27 Aug. 2019 Malaga midfielder Samu was given his marching orders by the referee shortly after the second goal for an out of control lunge into Alba's ankle.
—
SI.com, "Malaga 0-2 Barcelona: Catalans Extend Unbeaten Run With Easy Win Against 10-Man Hosts," 10 Mar. 2018
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lunge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for lunge
lunge
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of lunge (Entry 2 of 2)
: to move or reach forward in a sudden, forceful way
See the full definition for lunge in the English Language Learners Dictionary
lunge
noun\ ˈlənj \
\Kids Definition of lunge
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a sudden movement forward
… the shark opened his mouth … and made a lunge at the peach.— Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach
lunge
verblunged; lunging
Kids Definition of lunge (Entry 2 of 2)
: to move or reach forward in a sudden forceful way
She lunged across the table.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on lunge
What made you want to look up lunge? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Name that Thing: Flower Edition
- Name that flower
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Name that Thing: Flower Edition
Can you correctly identify these flowers?
Take the quiz - March 2020 Words of the Day Quiz Take the quiz
- Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share lunge
Time Traveler for lunge
The first known use of lunge was in 1748
See more words from the same year