Bulge — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbəlj/

Meaning & Definition of Bulge

Bulge (verb)

  1. to jut out, swell
  2. to become swollen or protuberant
  3. to bend outward

Bulge (noun)

  1. a protuberant or swollen part or place
  2. sudden expansion
  3. advantage, upper hand

Bulge (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a part that sticks out from the general mass of something

    "several bulges in the old vinyl flooring in the dingy bathroom"

    similar: bunch, convexity, jut, overhang, projection, protrusion, protuberance, swell
    related: dome, blob, bump, dilatation, gibbosity, hump, knob, knot, knurl, lump, nub, obtrusion, puff, snag, swelling, block, piece, portion, section, enlargement, escalation, expansion, increase, hill, mound
    opposite: cavity, concave, concavity, dent, depression, dint, hollow, indent, indentation, indenture, pit, recess
    near: crater, hole, well, basin, bowl, dip, valley, furrow, groove, trench, trough, dimple, gouge, impression, notch, pocket

  2. the more favorable condition or position in a competition

    "she got the bulge on him in the race for the statehouse"

    similar: advantage, better, catbird seat, drop, edge, high ground, inside track, jump, pull, stead, upper hand, vantage, whip hand, coign of vantage
    related: allowance, head start, lead, leg up, margin, odds, start, ascendancy, command, dominance, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, transcendency, precedence, preference, prerogative, privilege, seniority, break, foothold, opportunity, benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, manna, windfall
    opposite: disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability, minus, penalty, strike
    near: detriment, stranglehold, disparity, imbalance, inequality, unevenness, disability, failing, impairment, shortcoming, bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel, lurch, setback

Bulge (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to extend outward beyond a usual point

    "the sides of the returning camper's suitcase bulged with a month's worth of dirty laundry"

    similar: bag, balloon, beetle, belly, billow, bunch, jut, overhang, poke, pooch (chiefly dialect), pouch, pout, project, protrude, stand out, start, stick out, swell
    related: dome, blow up, inflate, dilate, distend, expand, mushroom, snowball, elongate, extend, lengthen, stretch
    near: compress, condense, constrict, contract, shrink

  2. to be copiously supplied

    "this guidebook to San Francisco positively bulges with useful information"

    similar: abound, brim, bristle, burst, bustle, buzz, crawl, hum, overflow, pullulate, swarm, teem
    near: lack, need, want

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bulge

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bulge:

Chiefly dialect: pooch
bunch, convexity, jut, overhang, projection, protrusion, protuberance, swell, advantage, better, catbird seat, drop, edge, high ground, inside track, jump, pull, stead, upper hand, vantage, whip hand, coign of vantage, bag, balloon, beetle, belly, billow, poke, pouch, pout, project, protrude, stand out, start, stick out, abound, brim, bristle, burst, bustle

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bulge

Words with the opposite meaning of Bulge:

cavity, concave, concavity, dent, depression, dint, hollow, indent, indentation, indenture, pit, recess, disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability, minus, penalty, strike

Related Words for Bulge

dome, blob, bump, dilatation, gibbosity, hump, knob, knot, knurl, lump, nub, obtrusion, puff, snag, swelling, block, piece, portion, section, enlargement, escalation, expansion, increase, hill, mound, allowance, head start, lead, leg up, margin

Near Antonyms of Bulge

crater, hole, well, basin, bowl, dip, valley, furrow, groove, trench, trough, dimple, gouge, impression, notch, pocket, detriment, stranglehold, disparity, imbalance, inequality, unevenness, disability, failing, impairment, shortcoming, bar, catch, check, clog

Word Forms of Bulge

Inflections: bulged, bulging, bulges

Derived words: bulgy (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Bulge

Middle English bolgen

First known use: 15th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Bulge

What does "Bulge" mean?

"Bulge" means to jut out, swell. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to jut out, swell. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bulge"?

Other words for "Bulge" include bunch, convexity, jut, overhang, projection, protrusion, protuberance and swell. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bulge" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bulge"?

There are 114 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bulge". Common alternatives include bunch, convexity, jut, overhang, projection, protrusion, protuberance, swell, advantage and better.

What is the opposite of "Bulge"?

Antonyms of "Bulge" include cavity, concave, concavity, dent, depression, dint, hollow and indent. Near antonyms include crater, hole, well and basin.

How do you use "Bulge" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bulge" in a sentence: "several bulges in the old vinyl flooring in the dingy bathroom"; "she got the bulge on him in the race for the statehouse"; "the sides of the returning camper's suitcase bulged with a month's worth of dirty laundry".

Is "Bulge" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bulge" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Bulge"?

"Bulge" is pronounced /ˈbəlj/.

What is the origin of the word "Bulge"?

"Bulge" comes from Middle English bolgen. First known use: 15th centuryt.