groundswell

noun

ground·​swell ˈgrau̇nd-ˌswel How to pronounce groundswell (audio)
1
usually ground swell : a broad deep undulation of the ocean caused by an often distant gale or seismic disturbance
2
: a rapid spontaneous growth (as of political opinion)
a groundswell of support

Examples of groundswell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The killings, which were captured in videos, led to a groundswell of outrage and massive protests across the country. Daniella Silva, NBC news, 18 May 2026 At the same time, there’s a groundswell movement calling for black athletes to avoid SEC schools because of the potential demolition of the Voting Rights Act. Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 For Kawasaki’s part, Synflux is prepared to rise to the challenge of the summit’s theme—Building Resilient Futures—even though the goal feels increasingly aspirational amid the groundswell of global instability. Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 May 2026 The groundswell of interest isn’t just limited to Jackson’s solo work. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for groundswell

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of groundswell was in 1786

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Groundswell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groundswell. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

ground swell

noun
: a broad deep ocean swell caused by a distant storm or earthquake
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