English Reference

Word

bulging

US/ˈbəɫdʒɪŋ/

UK/bˈʌldʒɪŋ/

Definition

adj. sticking out in a round shape because something is very full or under pressure.

adj. swelling or protruding outwards from a surface, typically due to internal pressure or being overfilled. Often used as a participial adjective to describe eyes, muscles, or containers.

Examples

“He carried a bulging bag of groceries.”

“The athlete's bulging muscles showed how hard he had been training for the competition.”

“The old wooden bookshelf was visibly bulging under the weight of hundreds of leather-bound volumes that had been crammed into every available space.”

Examples

simple

“He carried a bulging bag of groceries.”

contextual

“The athlete's bulging muscles showed how hard he had been training for the competition.”

complex

“The old wooden bookshelf was visibly bulging under the weight of hundreds of leather-bound volumes that had been crammed into every available space.”

Usage

Often appears before a noun or after a linking verb like 'look' or 'be'.

Real-World Examples

“When William’s ships speed across the Channel, their bulging, wind-filled, multicoloured sails fill the upper space.”
The Guardian · 3 Sept 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/bulging

English Reference