(lurches, lurching, lurched)
1.
To lurch means to make a sudden movement, especially forwards, in an uncontrolled way.
As the car sped over a pothole she lurched forward...
Henry looked, stared, and lurched to his feet...
VERB: V adv/prep, V adv/prep, also V
•
Lurch is also a noun.
The car took a lurch forward but grounded in a deep rut.
N-COUNT
2.
If you say that a person or organization lurches from one thing to another, you mean they move suddenly from one course of action or attitude to another in an uncontrolled way.
The state government has lurched from one budget crisis to another...
The first round of multilateral trade talks has lurched between hope and despair.
VERB: V from n to n, V prep/adv [disapproval]
•
Lurch is also a noun.
The property sector was another casualty of the lurch towards higher interest rates.
N-COUNT: usu N prep
3.
If someone leaves you in the lurch, they go away or stop helping you at a very difficult time. (INFORMAL)
You wouldn't leave an old friend in the lurch, surely?
PHRASE: V inflects