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
Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 16 May 2025
Several more exercises are now single-leg—for example, a lunge instead of a squat.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
When Combs saw emails between Ventura Fine and Combs' former assistant Capricorn Clark about bringing a toiletry bag to Cudi's house, Ventura Fine said Combs got angry and lunged at her with a wine bottle opener between his fingers.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lunge
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Noun
Your training routine should include a variety of compound movements, like lunges, Bulgarian split squats, leg presses, pull-downs, upright rows, and push-ups.
—Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 16 May 2025
Several more exercises are now single-leg—for example, a lunge instead of a squat.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
During the freak-off, Ventura alleged Combs found her phone and discovered e-mails that had been shared between Ventura and Kid Cudi, prompting him to lunge at her with a corkscrew.
—Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
When Combs saw emails between Ventura Fine and Combs' former assistant Capricorn Clark about bringing a toiletry bag to Cudi's house, Ventura Fine said Combs got angry and lunged at her with a wine bottle opener between his fingers.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lunge
Cite this Entry
“Lunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lunge. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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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