Definition of "lurch" []

• To stagger. See Synonyms at blunder. (verb-intransitive)
• To roll or pitch suddenly or erratically: The ship lurched in the storm. The car gave a start and then lurched forward. (verb-intransitive)
• A staggering or tottering movement or gait. (noun)
• An abrupt rolling or pitching. (noun)
• The losing position of a cribbage player who scores 30 points or less to the winner's 61. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Unfortunately, the win actually still leaves Florian in the title lurch, even though it appeared he had punched his ticket before the win over Stevenson with a victory over Roger Huerta earlier this year."
• "Comparing Hillary†™ s lurch to the right (and landing in the center) is comparable to McCains†™ lurch from the center to the right."
• "Yet in such circumstances the woman who has been left in the lurch is supposed to suffer, quite apart from the damage to her affection, a sort of moral damage and disgrace from the heartlessness or fickleness of another person – the man to whom she has been engaged; and this moral damage is, I believe, taken into account in actions for breach of promise of marriage (where there is no question of seduction)."