# bulging

/ˈbəɫdʒɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈʌldʒɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bulging
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.