thunder

American  

[thuhn-der] / ˈθʌn dər /

noun

1. a loud, explosive, resounding noise produced by the explosive expansion of air heated by a lightning discharge.

2. any loud, resounding noise.

   the thunder of applause.

3. a threatening or startling utterance, denunciation, or the like.

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verb (used without object)

1. to give forth thunder (often used impersonally with it as the subject).

   It thundered last night.

2. to make a loud, resounding noise like thunder.

   The artillery thundered in the hills.

3. to utter loud or vehement denunciations, threats, or the like.

4. to speak in a very loud tone.

5. to move or go with a loud noise or violent action.

   The train thundered through the village.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike, drive, inflict, give forth, etc., with loud noise or violent action.

idioms

1. steal someone's thunder,

   1. to use for one's own purposes and without the knowledge or permission of the originator the inventions or ideas of another.

   2. to ruin or detract from the effect of a performance, remark, etc., by anticipating it.

thunder British  

/ ˈθʌndə /

noun

1. a loud cracking or deep rumbling noise caused by the rapid expansion of atmospheric gases which are suddenly heated by lightning

2. any loud booming sound

3. rare a violent threat or denunciation

4. to detract from the attention due to another by forestalling him or her

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verb

1. to make (a loud sound) or utter (words) in a manner suggesting thunder

2. (intr; with it as subject) to be the case that thunder is being heard

3. (intr) to move fast and heavily

   the bus thundered downhill

4. (intr) to utter vehement threats or denunciation; rail

thunder Scientific  

/ thŭn′dər /

1. The explosive noise that accompanies a stroke of lightning. Thunder is a series of sound waves produced by the rapid expansion of the air through which the lightning passes. Sound travels about 1 km in 3 seconds (about 1 mi in 5 seconds). The distance between an observer and a lightning flash can be calculated by counting the number of seconds between the flash and the thunder.

2. See Note at lightning

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thunder Cultural  

1. The noise created when air rushes back into a region from which it has been expelled by the passage of lightning.

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thunder More Idioms  

1. see under steal someone's thunder.

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Other Word Forms

• outthunder verb (used with object)
• thunderer noun
• thunderless adjective
• thundery adjective

Etymology

Origin of thunder

before 900; (noun) Middle English thonder, thunder, Old English thunor; cognate with Dutch donder, German Donner; Old Norse thōrr Thor, literally, thunder; (v.) Middle English thondren, Old English thunrian, derivative of the v.; akin to Latin tonāre to thunder

Example Sentences

In 2002, the year before Moreno bought the team, the stadium was rocking with thunder sticks as the Angels won the World Series.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Iranian authorities have not commented on the Israeli statements, which came after a night of heavy bombardment in Tehran interspersed with the sound of thunder.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

An AFP reporter had earlier Tuesday reported blasts in Tehran, after a night of heavy bombardment mixed with thunder and rain.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

I don’t want to steal the thunder of Joanna Stern, Nicole Nguyen and Christopher Mims, so have at it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

Its voice shook the room, a thunder of rage and grief.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• detonation
• explosion
• roar
• rumble