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to onrush

to onrush

2 6.7
To rush forward suddenly toward someone or something
  • verb
  • /ˈɑnˌrʌʃ/
translation icon : embestir
  • Small lizards scattered out of the way of their onrushing tires; birds flew up from the surrounding bushes, squawking into the air.
  • an onrushing train
  • an onrushing tide
  • onrushing air

Examples

  • Inter's defense opened up when Mirko Vucinic rolled the ball towards an onrushing Asamoah.

    Blog text (29)
  • Marissa opened her eyes and stared at the onrushing road.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The doctor glimpses the pale face and dark wet hair of a boy who seems oddly unaware of the onrushing vehicle.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The throng of onrushing fans caused the dasher boards to break as supporters went happily headlong onto the field.

    Blog text (1)
  • The horse made an onrush toward the finish line, leaving its competitors behind.

  • She barely escaped the onrush of the falling rocks during the landslide.

  • The crowd started to onrush toward the stage as the band prepared to play.

Synonyms

to rush
vsto onrush
548 1.0

To move or act quickly because a situation needs it

is specifically a sudden forward movement rather than general hurry
to push forward
vsto onrush
6 3.6

To move ahead by pushing people or things out of the way

is more sudden and stronger typically a rapid forceful surge
to rush along
vsto onrush
1 2.7

To move quickly in one direction

is more forceful and often directed toward someone or something
to jackrabbit
vsto onrush
  • Informal
1 7.9

To start moving suddenly and very fast from a stop

is similar but emphasizes continuous force rather than just a start
to hurtle towards
vsto onrush
1 6.8

To move very fast and out of control toward something, often causing harm

is forceful and sudden but not necessarily out of control
to elance
vsto onrush
9.9

To move suddenly and fast in one direction

is sudden and forceful often moves toward someone or something
to cannonball along
vsto onrush
  • Informal
7.1

To move very quickly in a straight, forceful way

is equally forceful but often directed at someone or something
to bullrush through
vsto onrush
  • UK
8.9

Move quickly through a crowd while pushing people aside

is similar but wider not limited to moving through people
to thrust ahead
vsto onrush
5.7

To push forward through a crowd to get ahead

is often sudden and aimed toward someone or something rather than crowd movement

Antonyms

93 4.4

A move back from a place to escape danger

29 4.8

To move back or become less strong

How Forcefully

to charge
128 3.6
to onrush
2 6.7
to surge
57 4.1
to rush
548 1.0

Surface Forms

onrush infinitive
onrushed past
onrushed past participle
onrushing present participle
onrushes third person singular

Morphology

onrush = rush (transparent) = on + rush

The verb is a straightforward prefixation 'on' + 'rush' meaning to rush forward suddenly.

Etymology

Onrush as a verb comes from on- ('toward' or 'forward') plus rush ('move quickly'), so to onrush is to move forward suddenly and with force, like floodwater or a crowd surging toward a place. That's why we use onrush when something charges or rushes toward someone or something.