Meaning & use
lurch
To move suddenly and unsteadily, often tilting or jerking to one side.
See it in a sentence
The old bus lurched forward every time the driver hit the brakes.
He lurched across the icy sidewalk, struggling to keep his balance.
A note on using this word
Lurch describes abrupt, uncontrolled movement; the idiom 'leave someone in the lurch' means to abandon them in a difficult situation.
Words with a similar meaning
staggerlunge
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A sudden, unsteady movement or tilt to one side.
The ship gave a violent lurch as the wave hit its side.
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