upsurge I. \| ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\intransitive verb Etymology:up (I) + surge : to surge up : rise, increase II. \ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\noun : an act or instance of surging up; especially: a rapid increase : a sudden rise < a big upsurge of wage claims — Margaret Stewart > < the present upsurge of concern for the quality of … teaching — Ellsworth Barnard >