resurge: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Low FrequencyFormal, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “resurge” mean?
To rise again.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To rise again; to experience a renewed growth or revival.
Often used to describe the return of something that had declined or disappeared, such as a movement, feeling, economic activity, or threat. Implies a powerful, often sudden, comeback.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage patterns are very similar. 'Resurgence' (noun) is far more common than the verb 'resurge' in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/archaic in tone in both dialects. More likely found in written analysis than casual speech.
Frequency
The verb is rare. The noun 'resurgence' is the dominant form.
Grammar
How to Use “resurge” in a Sentence
[abstract subject] + resurge[abstract subject] + resurge + in + [place/area][abstract subject] + resurge + after/amid/during + [event/period]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “resurge” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Fears of inflation began to resurge after the quarterly report.
- In the final chapter, the protagonist's doubts resurge with terrible force.
- Nationalist sentiment has resurged in several regions.
American English
- The virus resurged in communities with low vaccination rates.
- After years of quiet, the debate over land rights resurged violently.
- Our hopes for a deal resurged after the CEO's comments.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe recovering markets, renewed consumer demand, or revitalized industries.
Academic
Common in history, political science, and sociology to describe the return of ideologies, conflicts, or social movements.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used in news commentary.
Technical
Used in epidemiology (infection resurges), ecology (species resurges), and cybersecurity (threats resurge).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “resurge”
- Using it for a person's physical return (e.g., 'He resurged into the room').
- Using it transitively (e.g., 'They resurged the campaign' – incorrect). It is intransitive.
- Confusing it with 'resurrect', which implies bringing back to life, often literally.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the verb 'resurge' is quite rare (C2 level). The noun 'resurgence' is far more frequently used.
No, 'resurge' is an intransitive verb. It does not take a direct object. Something resurges on its own.
'Revive' can be transitive (to revive someone/something) and applies to a wider range of contexts (e.g., reviving a patient, a conversation, a tradition). 'Resurge' is intransitive and implies a powerful, often autonomous, return of an abstract force or phenomenon.
The related adjective is 'resurgent' (e.g., a resurgent economy, resurgent nationalism).
To rise again.
Resurge is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Resurge: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈsɜːdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈsɜːrdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rise from the ashes (conceptual synonym)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SURGE of water (a powerful wave) that comes RE- (again). A RE-SURGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FORCE (like a wave or flame) RETURNING.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'resurge' MOST appropriately?