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onrush

noun

on·​rush ˈȯn-ˌrəsh How to pronounce onrush (audio)
ˈän-
1
: a rushing forward or onward
2
: onset
onrushing adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Proponents say a lag between the buildout of AI infrastructure and an onrush of gains is to be expected, pointing to a similar lull after the introduction of other watershed technologies, such as the internet. Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2025 The onrush to embrace generative AI without considering the consequences. Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025 There is something feral in the onrush of Marlowe’s verse, with the gleam of bared teeth daring us to laugh. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 That effect is amplified with coins issued by high-profile celebrities, which tend to attract an onrush of investors at release. Joel Khalili, Wired News, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for onrush

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of onrush was circa 1784

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Cite this Entry

“Onrush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onrush. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

onrush

noun
on·​rush ˈȯn-ˌrəsh How to pronounce onrush (audio)
ˈän-
: a rushing forward or onward
onrushing adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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