surge

UK: /ˈsɜː^rdʒ/ US: /sɝdʒ/ ,(sûrj)

Inflections of 'surge' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

surges

v 3rd person singular

surging

v pres p

surged

v past

surged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

surge /sɜrdʒ/   n., v., surged, surg•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. a strong, forward movement like a wave:
   the surge of the crowd toward the stadium.
2. a sudden, strong rush or burst:
   a surge of energy.
3. Electricity a sudden rush or burst of electric current or voltage:
   Protect your computer against electrical surges.

v. [no object]

4. Oceanography to rise, roll, move, or swell forward in or like waves:
   Floodwater surged through the town.
5. to rise as if by a heaving or swelling force, as of strong feeling:
   She could feel anger surging through her body.
6. Electricity (esp. of electric current or voltage) to increase suddenly.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

surge  (sûrj), n., v., surged, surg•ing. 
n. 

1. a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep:
   the onward surge of an angry mob.
2. a strong, swelling, wavelike volume or body of something:
   a billowing surge of smoke.
3. Oceanography the rolling swell of the sea.
4. Oceanography the swelling and rolling sea:
   The surge crashed against the rocky coast.
5. Oceanography a swelling wave;
   billow.
6. Meteorology
   • a widespread change in atmospheric pressure that is in addition to cyclonic and normal diurnal changes.
   • See storm surge. 
7. Electricity
   • a sudden rush or burst of current or voltage.
   • a violent oscillatory disturbance.
8. Nautical, Naval Terms a slackening or slipping back, as of a rope or cable.
9. [Mach.]
   • Mechanical Engineering an uneven flow and strong momentum given to a fluid, as water in a tank, resulting in a rapid, temporary rise in pressure.
   • Mechanical Engineering pulsating unevenness of motion in an engine or gas turbine.

v.i. 
10. Nautical, Naval Terms (of a ship) to rise and fall, toss about, or move along on the waves:
    to surge at anchor.
11. Oceanography to rise, roll, move, or swell forward in or like waves:
    The sea surged against the shore. The crowd surged back and forth.
12. to rise as if by a heaving or swelling force:
    Blood surged to his face.
13. Electricity
    • to increase suddenly, as current or voltage.
    • to oscillate violently.
14. Naval Terms [Naut.]
    • , Nautical, Naval Terms to slack off or loosen a rope or cable around a capstan or windlass.
    • , Nautical, Naval Terms to slip back, as a rope.
15. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] to move with pulsating unevenness, as something driven by an engine or gas turbine.

v.t. 
16. Oceanography to cause to surge or roll in or as in waves.
17. Nautical, Naval Terms to slacken (a rope).
• Latin surgere to spring up, arise, stand up
• perh. 1480–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

surge / sɜːdʒ/ noun

1. a strong rush or sweep; sudden increase: a surge of anger
2. the rolling swell of the sea, esp after the passage of a large wave
3. a heavy rolling motion or sound: the surge of the trumpets
4. an undulating rolling surface, as of hills
5. a billowing cloud or volume
6. a temporary release or slackening of a rope or cable
7. a large momentary increase in the voltage or current in an electric circuit
8. an upward instability or unevenness in the power output of an engine

verb

1. (intransitive) (of waves, the sea, etc) to rise or roll with a heavy swelling motion
2. (intransitive) to move like a heavy sea
3. to slacken or temporarily release (a rope or cable) from a capstan or (of a rope, etc) to be slackened or released and slip back
4. (intransitive) (of an electric current or voltage) to undergo a large momentary increase
5. (transitive) to cause to move in or as if in a wave or waves

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin surgere to rise, from sub- up + regere to lead

ˈsurger noun