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.
lunged; lunging
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)
: to thrust or propel (something, such as a blow) in a lunge
Examples of lunge in a Sentence
Noun
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
Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 24 Mar. 2026
Tagliafico was sent off in the 89th for a violent lunge on Lamine Camara, whose left foot buckled under him.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Kelly made it 3-0 with a two-out flyball that landed just out of the reach of a lunging Trout in shallow right-center for a two-run single.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lunge
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Noun
Then there are lower-body moves like lunges and squats, which also use the majority of your body as the load.
—Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 24 Mar. 2026
Tagliafico was sent off in the 89th for a violent lunge on Lamine Camara, whose left foot buckled under him.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
Adames missed his lunging attempt to tag Polanco, giving the Mets a one-out double instead of a momentum-turning second out with the bases empty.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Kelly made it 3-0 with a two-out flyball that landed just out of the reach of a lunging Trout in shallow right-center for a two-run single.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lunge
Cite this Entry
“Lunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lunge. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lunge
1 of 2 noun1
: 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)
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