groundswell: Meaning and Definition of

ground•swell

Pronunciation: (ground'swel"), [key]
— n.
  1. a broad, deep swell or rolling of the sea, due to a distant storm or gale.
  2. any surge of support, approval, or enthusiasm, esp. among the general public: a groundswell of political support for the governor.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.