Word
lunged
/ˈɫəndʒd/
Definition
v. to jump or move forward suddenly to grab, hit, or catch something. 'Lunged' is the past form, so you use it when the move already happened.
v. the past tense of 'lunge'; to thrust the body suddenly forward, typically to attack, seize, or intercept.
Examples
“He lunged forward to catch the falling ball.”
“The goalkeeper lunged to his left and blocked the penalty kick in the final minute.”
“Without warning, the dog lunged at the fence, barking fiercely as the postman stepped closer to the gate.”
Examples
simple
“He lunged forward to catch the falling ball.”
contextual
“The goalkeeper lunged to his left and blocked the penalty kick in the final minute.”
complex
“Without warning, the dog lunged at the fence, barking fiercely as the postman stepped closer to the gate.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lunged” in context.
Verb
01. lunge at
“He lunged at the attacker and knocked the knife from his hand.”
verb + prep
02. lunge for
“The keeper lunged for the ball but could not reach it in time.”
verb + prep
03. lunge forward
“She lunged forward to catch the phone before it hit the floor.”
verb + adv
04. lunge towards
“He lunged towards the door to stop it from closing.”
verb + prep
Adjective
05. instinctively lunge
“She instinctively lunged back when the snake moved in the grass.”
adv + verb
06. suddenly lunge
“He suddenly lunged to stop the child running into the road.”
adv + verb
Noun
07. goalkeeper lunge
“The goalkeeper lunged to his left and pushed the shot away.”
noun + verb
08. lunge at someone
“He lunged at the thief and grabbed his jacket.”
09. lunge for the ball
“The defender lunged for the ball and cleared it off the line.”
10. lunge forward to grab
“She lunged forward to grab the rope before it slipped away.”
11. lunge towards the door
“He lunged towards the door, but it had already slammed shut.”
Usage
Intransitive; often followed by 'at', 'for', 'toward' or 'forward' to mark the target or direction.
Real-World Examples
“Several people were injured when the armed assailant lunged at Acton.” “Gareth lunged at me,” Keane says on the podcast.” “One of the men lunged more decisively, his imitation sword protruding forward.” “A man armed with two large knives and shouting “God is great” in Arabic lunged at a military patrol near an entrance to the Louvre on Friday, causing little harm, but rattling a city already on edge over terrorist attacks and casting another shadow over its international image.” Etymology
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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