a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere, manifesting itself by winds of unusual force or direction, often accompanied by rain, snow, hail, thunder, and lightning, or flying sand or dust.
a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.
Also called violent storm. Meteorology. a wind of 64–72 miles per hour (29–32 meters per second).
a violent military assault on a fortified place, strong position, or the like.
a heavy or sudden volley or discharge.
a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.
a violent disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.
a violent outburst or outbreak of expression.
a storm of applause.
Informal. storm window.
(of the wind or weather) to blow with unusual force, or to rain, snow, hail, etc., especially with violence (usually used impersonally with it as subject).
It stormed all day.
to rage or complain with violence or fury.
He stormed angrily at me.
to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery.
The troops stormed against the garrison.
to rush to an assault or attack.
The tanks stormed towards the city.
to rush angrily.
to storm out of a room.
to subject to or as if to a storm.
The salesman stormed them with offers.
to utter or say with angry vehemence.
The strikers stormed their demands.
to attack or assault (persons, places, or things).
to storm a fortress.
a violent weather condition of strong winds, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, blowing sand, snow, etc
( as modifier )
storm signal
storm sail
( in combination )
stormproof
meteorol a violent gale of force 10 on the Beaufort scale reaching speeds of 55 to 63 mph
a strong or violent reaction
a storm of protest
a direct assault on a stronghold
a heavy discharge or rain, as of bullets or missiles
short for storm window
US equivalent: tempest in a teapot. a violent fuss or disturbance over a trivial matter
to capture or overrun by a violent assault
to overwhelm and enthral
to attack or capture (something) suddenly and violently
(intr) to be vociferously angry
(intr) to move or rush violently or angrily
(intr; with it as subject) to rain, hail, or snow hard and be very windy, often with thunder or lightning
A low-pressure atmospheric disturbance resulting in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning.
A wind with a speed from 103 to 117 km (64 to 73 mi) per hour, rating 11 on the Beaufort scale.
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch storm, German Sturm, Old Norse stormr; (verb) Middle English stormen, derivative of the noun (compare obsolete sturme, Middle English sturmen, Old English styrman, denominative verb from the same Germanic base as storm ); akin to stir 1
A storm is what happens when the earth's atmosphere is disturbed. If the weather report says that a storm is on the way, you might want to carry an umbrella — or just stay at home and watch movies. Storms range from the windstorm that blows branches off your tree to the snowstorm that buries your neighborhood under two feet of the white stuff. It's a verb too: "It began to storm outside, and the rain beat down on the windows." Figuratively, you might even storm angrily: "My sister was so mad that she stormed around her room, kicking things." Something controversial can also cause a figurative storm, or uproar.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Possibly singed and mostly sandy, they storm the Mediterranean and return to their grills wet, steaming, and triumphant.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
Chinese authorities had earlier issued their highest-level red alert on Dolphin, but by Monday morning they downgraded it to a tropical storm.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
What happens if your house is damaged in a storm and the insurance company balks, saying it’s flood damage rather than wind damage, for example?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Despite the storm activity, fire risk remains low.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
“He wasn’t in the house. When the storm came, I got up to close the window because the rain was coming in. I looked through the glass and saw him standing out in the yard.”
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Nicknamed the Black Sea Storm, Trabzonspor have won seven league titles, six of which came between 1976 and 1984.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
That led to humiliation for Executive ministers in the wake of Storm Éowyn last year.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Tropical Storm Bertha spread across northwestern Florida Tuesday, where it was predicted to bring coastal flooding and heavy rainfall, the National Hurricane Center said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Odd Arne Westad begins “The Coming Storm: Power, Conflict, and Warnings From History” with a poignant and haunting visit to World War I memorials and cemeteries in France.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
I will always blame myself, but Storm did not blame me.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
By far the most common favorite memory among viewers was witnessing Jackie protect her young from fierce winter storms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Losses from severe convective storms were below the long-term trend in the first half but remained the biggest insured-loss driver.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
A typhoon is the term used for storms that form in the north-west Pacific, whereas a hurricane is the term used for storms that form in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
"Why do solar storms propagate in this way? What are their structures, and can we develop models that allow us to predict them?" asked Carole Mundell, the ESA's director of science.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Behind them glittered the astounding ocean with its heaving storms, flying fish, breaching whales, and curls of phosphorescent waves.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
After the most recent, when a gunman stormed a hotel in Washington during a White House dinner, Trump's security team said they would review their protocols for protecting the president.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
On a recent afternoon, Matt Simpson watched as a parade of brawny off-road SUVs, pickup trucks and high-powered sports cars stormed down a Nascar racetrack in mid-Michigan.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Toppled in August 2024 by a student-led uprising that ended her 15-year, iron-fisted rule, Hasina fled by helicopter to India as crowds stormed her palace.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
But I never bothered to tune into other matches even as soccer leagues from across the globe have stormed network, cable and streaming channels in recent years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Boaz turned and stormed into the dark, his hands balled into fists.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Back then, at a vote held in Kigali, Rwanda, the support for him was so overwhelming that he was ushered back into office by acclaim, with a storming round of applause replacing a formal vote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar is on the verge of winning a record-equalling fifth Tour de France after taking a storming victory on stage 19 to Alpe d'Huez.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
But wildcard Arthur Fery storming into the semi-finals?
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets in June 2024 against economic hardship and corruption, eventually storming parliament to force the cancellation of new taxes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
She holds it conspicuously in front of her, storming down the hall.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
