Meaning & use

bulging

adjective·Everyday

Swelling outward or protruding noticeably beyond a normal or expected surface.

See it in a sentence

His bulging suitcase barely closed after he packed for the two-week trip.

The old dam had a bulging section that engineers marked for urgent repair.

A note on using this word

Bulging often describes something stretched to its limit, whether a physical object, a muscle, or even eyes wide with shock.

Words with a similar meaning

swollenprotruding

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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