in the lurch

ADJECTIVE

late

Synonyms

STRONGEST

last-minute slow

WEAK

backward behind behind time behindhand belated blown delayed dilatory eleventh hour gone held up hung up in a bind jammed lagging missed the boat out of luck overdue postponed put off remiss stayed strapped tardy too late unpunctual

Antonyms

WEAK

antique early live old old-fashioned on time prompt punctual

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There’s a worrying precedent from the financial crisis of a big American company being left in the lurch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

As imports are disrupted, India has moved to ensure households and essential sectors remain adequately supplied, leaving restaurants, manufacturers and power plants in the lurch.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Developers and investors are hesitant to schedule a spot on a factory line if that factory’s bankruptcy will leave them in the lurch.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

That freeze has left many buyers in the lurch and stuck without financing or the flood insurance that’s required for their mortgage.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 31, 2025

Some hinted that he meant merely to sail back by Hosk to the Inmost Sea, leaving them in the lurch; others, among them Pechvarry, held that he had gone mad, and sought death.

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

in the lurch

Example Sentences

Related Words