groundswell of support

USAGE SUMMARY

"groundswell of support" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to an increase in support or enthusiasm around an idea, movement, or cause. For example, "The policy change was met with a groundswell of support from the public."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Donoghue believes the groundswell of support that's building is crucial.

Independent

There was no groundswell of support for this.

The New Yorker

By Friday there was a groundswell of support.

The New York Times

"There has been a groundswell of support for my campaign.

The New York Times

But there were few signs of any groundswell of support.

The New York Times

Despite these efforts, no groundswell of support emerged for a Bush restoration.

The New Yorker

"There's a real groundswell of support and goodwill," Ms. Mock said.

The New York Times

But where is the national groundswell of support for a leftward tilt?

The New Yorker

That means there could still be a groundswell of support behind one of the candidates.

The New York Times

He now promises to create a "groundswell of support" for divorce among shareholders.

The Economist

It was at the center of a national groundswell of support for Captain Yee.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve this expression for situations where support is noticeably increasing or has reached a significant critical mass.

Common error

Do not use "groundswell" when referring to the support of a single influential person or a small committee. It specifically describes a collective, broad-based phenomenon.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "groundswell of support" functions as a complex noun phrase typically used as the subject or object of a sentence. It uses the metaphorical term "groundswell"—originally referring to a broad, deep ocean swell—to describe a social or political trend. According to Ludwig AI, it is often preceded by the indefinite article "a" to denote a singular but massive collective event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Politics

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "groundswell of support" is a highly effective and grammatically correct way to describe broad-based, collective momentum for a cause or individual. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in top-tier journalism, where it highlights the transition of an idea from a niche interest to a popular movement. Because of its maritime metaphorical roots, it suggests a force that is deep and powerful rather than superficial. When writing, ensure you are describing a collective phenomenon rather than isolated praise. If you need more emotional weight, consider using "outpouring of support", but for political or strategic contexts, "groundswell of support" remains the gold standard.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outpouring of support

emphasizes the emotional or spontaneous nature of the backing

upswell of support

uses a similar liquid metaphor but is slightly less common in journalistic writing

surge in backing

focuses more on the sudden increase in volume rather than the bottom-up origin

wave of enthusiasm

shifts focus from the act of support to the underlying feeling of excitement

grassroots momentum

explicitly identifies the support as coming from ordinary people rather than elites

flood of encouragement

suggests a high volume of positive messages rather than political or structural backing

rising tide of consensus

implies a growing agreement among a large group over time

mass appeal

describes the quality of being liked by many rather than the movement itself

broad-based approval

more clinical and formal, lacking the metaphorical energy of a groundswell

avalanche of endorsements

emphasizes an overwhelming and unstoppable force of public statements

FAQs

What does a "groundswell of support" mean?

It refers to a sudden and significant increase in public or collective favor for a person, cause or idea, often originating from a grassroots level.

Can I say "outpouring of support" instead?

Yes, an "outpouring of support" is a very close synonym, though it often carries a more emotional connotation.

Is it "groundswell of support" or "groundswell in support"?

The most common and standard idiom is "groundswell of support", though you may occasionally see "groundswell of interest" or "groundswell of opinion".

How do I use this phrase in a sentence?

You could say, "There has been a "groundswell of support" for the new environmental policy among local residents."