onrush

noun

on·rush | \ ˈȯn-ˌrəsh

How to pronounce onrush (audio)

, ˈän- \

Definition of onrush

1 : a rushing forward or onward

2 : onset

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Examples of onrush in a Sentence

a sudden onrush of development in an area that was rural until very recently

Recent Examples on the Web Obviously, much of that mighty onrush would flow unstoppably downstream, there to pass under the arches of the area’s many bridges. — Washington Post, "Our second-coldest day of 2020 came on Saturday," 27 Dec. 2020 White likewise said medical patients should not be displaced by the onrush of recreational customers. — Ryan Randazzo, The Arizona Republic, "Arizona marijuana shops spend millions to expand ahead of recreational sales legalized by Proposition 207," 5 Nov. 2020 When online bookings for the first few tables went live, an onrush of aspiring diners caused the reservation page to crash. — Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, "A New Orleans Chef Navigates Disaster," 28 Aug. 2020 The Small Business Administration, lightly staffed and working with aging technology, has been caught unprepared for the onrush of demand from desperate small-business owners who urgently need these loans as the coronavirus stalls the economy. — Emily Flitter, New York Times, "Small Business Aid Program Stretches Agency to Its Limits," 7 Apr. 2020 There the Allies were no match for the stunning onrush of German soldiers, artillery, and tanks that would in a matter of days push a dangerous bulge in the Allied line. — Bill Newcott, National Geographic, "WWII veterans remember Hitler's 'last gamble'," 13 Dec. 2019 This onrush of introspection obliquely tells a sad family story. — The Economist, "“Ducks, Newburyport” is an ingenious feat of storytelling," 24 Oct. 2019 Bangladesh, with 160 million people and more than 130 rivers, is prone to monsoon floods because of overflowing rivers and the heavy onrush of water from upstream India. — Wasbir Hussain, BostonGlobe.com, "78 dead in Nepal as flooding wreaks havoc in South Asia," 16 July 2019 Bangladesh, a low-lying delta nation of 160 million people with more than 130 rivers, is prone to monsoon floods because of overflowing rivers and the heavy onrush of water from upstream India. — Binaj Gurubacharya, SFChronicle.com, "Heavy rain leaves scores dead in Nepal, India, Bangladesh," 14 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'onrush.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near onrush

on sale or return

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Cite this Entry

“Onrush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onrush. Accessed 8 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for onrush

onrush

noun

English Language Learners Definition of onrush

: a strong, fast movement forward

: a sudden development or appearance of something

See the full definition for onrush in the English Language Learners Dictionary

onrush

noun

on·rush | \ ˈȯn-ˌrəsh

, ˈän- \

Kids Definition of onrush

: a strong fast movement forward We got caught in the onrush of shoppers.

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