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thunderstorm

American  
[thuhn-der-stawrm] / ˈθʌn dərˌstɔrm /

noun

  1. a transient storm of lightning and thunder, usually with rain and gusty winds, sometimes with hail or snow, produced by cumulonimbus clouds.

thunderstorm British  
/ ˈθʌndəˌstɔːm /

noun

  1. a storm caused by strong rising air currents and characterized by thunder and lightning and usually heavy rain or hail

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
thunderstorm Scientific  
/ thŭn′dər-stôrm′ /

  1. A storm of heavy rain accompanied by lightning, thunder, wind, and sometimes hail. Thunderstorms occur when moist air near the ground becomes heated, especially in the summer, and rises, forming cumulonimbus clouds that produce precipitation. Electrical charges accumulate at the bases of the clouds until lightning is discharged. Air in the path of the lightning expands as a result of being heated, causing thunder. Thunderstorms can also be caused by temperature changes triggered by volcanic eruptions and forest fires, and they occur with much greater frequency at the equatorial regions than in polar regions.

Etymology

Origin of thunderstorm

First recorded in 1645–55; thunder + storm

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.

The worst of the weather is now out of the way, though heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely in Hawaii for the rest of the weekend and into the start of next week.

From BBC

This developing heatwave follows recent blizzards and frigid conditions in the Midwest and Great Lakes, along with heavy thunderstorms and tornado threats towards the East Coast.

From BBC

Tornadoes, thunderstorms and blizzard conditions are forecast to pummel parts of the eastern US.

From BBC

I squeezed my pillow around my head like a child in a thunderstorm.

From Literature

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers are reporting delays averaging more than 90 minutes because of thunderstorms, and Miami International and Orlando Airports were both reporting ground stops.

From Barron's

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.