lurch

Examples

• All

• "Father," he said, "I seem to have hurt myself." Lydia felt a sudden lurch in her stomach.

  Fiction book (1990)

• The roller coaster made a thrilling lurch as it plunged downwards, leaving everyone screaming.

• And then, with one final lurch, it was over.

  Fiction book (2000)

• And so he missed her movement, her sudden lurch forward and grab at the open bottle.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Seeing him there, knowing how close she had been to him, made her stomach lurch.

  Fiction book (1997)

• When escape no longer seemed possible, Martha felt a lurch of queasy terror that the group would do something embarrassing.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Ned looks pale, sweating, reacting tensely to every lurch and bump the train makes.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Her stomach gave a sickening lurch as Angus Tull stepped into view from behind the shelves of canned vegetables.

  Fiction book (1993)

• As the boat hit the rough waves, we all felt a sudden lurch to the side.

• During the earthquake, the building gave a violent lurch, causing people to stumble.

Synonyms

W

wobble

vslurch

12 2.8

An unsteady rocking movement from side to side

is a sudden uncontrolled movement, often sharper than a general rocking motion

S

sway

vslurch

8 3.5

A movement from side to side, like a bridge or ship

is a sudden uncontrolled movement, not a slow regular side-to-side incline

J

jerk

vslurch

7 2.2

A sudden sharp movement or pull

is a sudden uncontrolled movement often larger and forward or sideways

S

stagger

vslurch

5 5.0

An unsteady way of walking as if about to fall

is a sudden uncontrolled movement, not necessarily a prolonged unsteady walk

S

stumble

vslurch

3 2.2

A short loss of balance while walking that almost causes a fall

is a sudden uncontrolled movement rather than only a walking loss of balance

J

jerking

vslurch

2 4.2

A sudden quick movement that happens without control

is a sudden uncontrolled movement not necessarily repeated or spasmodic

S

shimmy

vslurch

• Specialized

1 8.4

A wobbling movement in the front wheels or steering of a vehicle

is a sudden uncontrolled movement, not limited to mechanical steering faults

J

jounce

vslurch

9.9

A sudden jolt that makes things shake

is an uncontrolled move often causing a larger sideways or forward motion

W

wabble

vslurch

9.1

A short unsteady movement from side to side

is a sudden uncontrolled movement usually stronger than a brief wobble

Antonyms

C

control

∞ 2.8

Ability to direct your body or its parts so they move as you want

S

stability

363 3.1

Being steady and not likely to change

Idioms

I

in the lurch

• Informal

8 8.2

Left without help at an important time

I

in the lurch

• Informal

1 7.7

Left suddenly without help when you need it

How Sudden

tumble

46 2.9

jerk

7 2.2

lurch

7 4.7

to stumble

129 1.6

shift

363 3.5

Surface Forms

Etymology