onrush

noun

on·​rush ˈȯn-ˌrəsh How to pronounce onrush (audio)
ˈän-
Synonyms of onrushnext
1
: a rushing forward or onward
2
: onset
onrushing
ˈȯn-ˌrə-shiŋ How to pronounce onrush (audio)
ˈän-
adjective

Synonyms of onrush

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Examples of onrush in a Sentence

a sudden onrush of development in an area that was rural until very recently
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Bell Jar Tracing the tangle of a new job in New York City and the simultaneous onrush of clinical depression, The Bell Jar brings the interior world of central character Esther Greenwood into stunning relief. — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026 But the government’s goal was to build confidence in the onrush of tomorrow. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Proponents say a lag between the buildout of AI infrastructure and an onrush of gains is to be expected, pointing to a similar lull after the introduction of other watershed technologies, such as the internet. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2025 The onrush to embrace generative AI without considering the consequences. — Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for onrush

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of onrush was circa 1784

Rhymes for onrush

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Browse Nearby Words

onroll
onrush
onrushing
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Cite this Entry

“Onrush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onrush. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

onrush

noun
on·​rush ˈȯn-ˌrəsh How to pronounce onrush (audio)
ˈän-
: a rushing forward or onward
onrushing
-iŋ How to pronounce onrush (audio)
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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