# lurch

/ˈɫɝtʃ/ (US) · /lˈɜːtʃ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lurch
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a sudden, uncontrolled movement to one side. You often use this to describe how a car or boat moves when it starts or stops suddenly.

For teachers: a sudden, uncontrolled, or jerky movement to one side. Often describes the physical motion of a vehicle or the abrupt shift in a situation.

## Examples

- The car gave a sudden lurch as it started moving.
- The boat took a sharp lurch to the left as a large wave crashed against the side.
- The economy took a sudden lurch downward when the central bank announced an unexpected increase in interest rates, catching investors off guard.

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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.