bulge

1 of 2

verb

ˈbəlj How to pronounce bulge (audio)
 also  ˈbu̇lj
bulged; bulging; bulges

intransitive verb

1
a
: to jut out : swell
b
: to become swollen or protuberant
… a pair of arresting pale blue eyes that tend to bulge maniacally …Jeremy Egner
c
: to bend outward
prevent the brick wall from bulging
2
: to be filled to overflowing
a notebook that bulged with ideas
3
archaic : bilge

transitive verb

: to cause to bulge

bulge

2 of 2

noun

plural bulges
1
: a protuberant or swollen part or place
a bulge in the wall
trying to get rid of the bulge around his middle
2
: sudden expansion
a population bulge
3
: advantage, upper hand
letting them get the bulge on you
4
a
: bilge sense 1
the bulge of a barrel
b
nautical : bilge sense 2
bulgy
ˈbəl-jē How to pronounce bulge (audio)
 also  ˈbu̇l-
adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for bulge

projection, protrusion, protuberance, bulge mean an extension beyond the normal line or surface.

projection implies a jutting out especially at a sharp angle.

those projections along the wall are safety hazards

protrusion suggests a thrusting out so that the extension seems a deformity.

the bizarre protrusions of a coral reef

protuberance implies a growing or swelling out in rounded form.

a skin disease marked by warty protuberances

bulge suggests an expansion caused by internal pressure.

bulges in the tile floor

Examples of bulge in a Sentence

Verb His face turned white and his eyes bulged. middle-aged people bulging at the waist Their bags bulged with books and papers. The squirrel's cheeks were bulging with nuts. a notebook bulging with ideas Noun “What's in there?” he asked, pointing to the large bulge in my purse. I'm exercising to get rid of this bulge around my middle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
But the visual appearance of the dead fish, which had telltale bulging eyes, pointed to gas bubble disease as the culprit. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 From the artfully bulging upper windows of the towering Elbphilharmonie complex, the city of Hamburg stretches out in seeming miniature — a vast industrial expanse of cranes, drawbridges and the purple breath of distant smokestacks. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 But the eagerness to dodge the governor could have a downside: a bulging ballot in November. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2024 Williams is shown in the throes of alcohol addiction and struggles with health issues including Graves' disease, an immune system disorder that can cause bulging eyes, and lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling in her feet. Danielle Bacher, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 The music, and radio production techniques, became more aggressive in the ’90s, and as technology provided a bulging wave of competitors and new ways to move around the dial, stations have been particularly challenged to maintain listeners’ attention during the 21st century. Tom Roland, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2024 As with any lever-style opener, some hand strength is required, but the ergonomic handle and non-slip grip make this a comfortable option with plenty of leverage to open any bottle without bulging your muscles. Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2024 On a strong person, what at first appear to be bulging pectorals are in reality two bulging brains. Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024 While their capsule pitched in the waves, the astronauts slipped on biological isolation garments – bulging, full-body suits meant to prevent the spread of lunar pathogens. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2024
Noun
Finally, Negrete bandages the wound, an ugly bulge of the intestines visible under the gauze. Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024 In 1988, Biden had surgery to repair two brain aneurysms, which are weak bulges in arteries, and one of them leaking, but subsequent examinations have never revealed evidence of recurrences. Darlene Superville, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 Always keep the belly pulled in, rather than doing any movement that pushes it out (and causes the telltale bulge on the midline). Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 27 Feb. 2024 During full or new moons, Earth, the moon and the sun are nearly lined up, pulling together to make the oceans bulge slightly more. Paul Duginski, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024 The merger changed everything: the course of the Milky Way’s halo, inner bulge, and flattened disk. WIRED, 12 Nov. 2023 Glass also embraces the inherent body horror of Jackie’s quest to bulk up, and as Jackie trains for the competition and injects more and more steroids, her skin stretches and veins bulge in extreme close-up. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 21 Jan. 2024 Throughout pregnancy, the muscles stretch to accommodate the growing fetus, making the connective tissue between the abdominal muscles thin and weakening, causing a bulge in your belly. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 29 Jan. 2024 There is a bulge near the equator, and so the planet’s axis has a slight wobble. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bulge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bolgen

Noun

Middle English boulge, bouge leather bag, curved part, from Anglo-French bouge bag — more at budget

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulge was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near bulge

Cite this Entry

“Bulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bulge

1 of 2 verb
bulged; bulging
1
: to swell, curve outward, or stick out
bulging eyes
2
: to be filled to overflowing
a bulging notebook

bulge

2 of 2 noun
: a part that swells or sticks out
Etymology

Noun

from early French boulge, bouge "leather bag," from Latin bulga "leather bag" — related to budget

More from Merriam-Webster on bulge

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