lunge

1 of 5

noun (1)

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 5

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

longe

3 of 5

noun (2)

ˈlənj 

ˈlōⁿzh, 

ˈläⁿzh, 

ˈlänj

variants or lunge

plural -s

: a long rein or strap used to lead or guide a horse in training

called also longeing rein

longe

4 of 5

transitive verb

ˈlənj 

ˈlōⁿzh, 

ˈläⁿzh, 

ˈlänj

variants or lunge

longed or lunged; longed or lunged; longeing or lunging; longes or lunges

: to guide or exercise (a horse) by means of a longe

longe

5 of 5

noun (3)

ˈlənj 

ˈlänj

plural -s

1

: lake trout sense b

2

: muskellunge

Synonyms of lunge

Noun (1)

• jab
• punch

Examples of lunge in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

In the video, Porizkova can be seen doing exercises such as hammer curls, cable pulls, deadlifts, pull-ups, lunges and others. — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Tony doesn’t flinch when a polar bear at the zoo lunges toward him. — Lauren Jackson, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Verb

Prosecutors said Eddimar Hernandez Chacon was walking with her sister in the 8600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue Saturday morning when a woman lunged at the sister first before attacking and fatally stabbing the 7-year-old. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

French longe, from Old French, from feminine of lonc long, from Latin longus

Noun (3)

by shortening & alteration

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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)