lurch
1 Americannoun
-
an act or instance of swaying abruptly.
-
an awkward, swaying or staggering motion or gait.
-
a sudden tip or roll to one side, as of a ship or a staggering person.
noun
idioms
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
Archaic. to do out of; defraud; cheat.
-
Obsolete. to acquire through underhanded means; steal; filch.
noun
verb
-
to lean or pitch suddenly to one side
-
to stagger or sway
noun
noun
-
to desert someone in trouble
-
cribbage the state of a losing player with less than 30 points at the end of a game (esp in the phrase in the lurch )
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lurch1
First recorded in 1800–10; origin uncertain
Origin of lurch2
First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French lourche a game, noun use of lourche (adjective) “defeated,” from a Germanic language; compare Middle High German lurz “left (hand); wrong,” lürzen “to deceive,” Old English belyrtan “to deceive”
Origin of lurch3
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English lorchen “to skulk,” apparently variant of lurken lurk
Explanation
To lurch is to suddenly move — usually forward. If you are on a ship that lurches a lot during a storm, you may find your body lurching in one direction and your stomach going in the opposite one. The verb lurch can refer to any abrupt movement, but it often has the sense of a sharp turn up, down, or sideways. If you invest in the stock market, you have to be prepared for sudden losses and gains as the stock market can lurch up or down on a whim. The verb also means to make sudden jerking movements when walking, as if you cannot control your movements.
Vocabulary lists containing lurch
The Diary of Anne Frank
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 7
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Cay
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
North has since learned she was not the only person Freddie Priestley had left in the lurch at the 11th hour after taking the deposit on a room in his three-bedroom flat.
From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026
A sharp lurch lower in gold prices after the worst week of declines since the 1980s had gold flirting with bear-market territory on Monday.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 23, 2026
There’s a worrying precedent from the financial crisis of a big American company being left in the lurch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026
As imports are disrupted, India has moved to ensure households and essential sectors remain adequately supplied, leaving restaurants, manufacturers and power plants in the lurch.
From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026
When a parent is absent, you’re left in the lurch of not knowing, and it’s so easy to fill that space with negative thoughts.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.