lurch

noun
UK: /lɜːtʃ/
US: /lɝːtʃ/

  1. A sudden, unsteady movement.

    1. The bus gave a sudden lurch forward.
    2. With a lurch, the elevator began to descend rapidly and uncontrollably.

Synonyms

stagger sway pitch plunge stumble totter
lurch intransitive-verb

  1. To move suddenly in an irregular and uncontrolled way.

    1. The car lurched forward a bit.
    2. The ship lurched violently during the unexpected storm last night.

  2. To walk or move with difficulty, staggering or swaying.

    1. He lurched to his friend for help.
    2. After a few drinks, he lurched down the sidewalk.
lurch transitive-verb

  1. To cause to move suddenly and unevenly.

    1. The accident lurched him to the ground.
    2. The sudden stop lurched the passengers toward the front of the bus.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "lurch" is /lɜːtʃ/ in British English and /lɝːtʃ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "lurch": stagger, sway, pitch, plunge, stumble, totter.

Example usage of "lurch": "The bus gave a sudden lurch forward.". More examples on the page.