thunderstorm

American  

[thuhn-der-stawrm] / ˈθʌn dərˌstɔrm /

noun

thunderstorms plural

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

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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

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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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• thunderstorms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of thunderstorm

First recorded in 1645–55; thunder + storm

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thunderstorm thunderstorms

So moving the kick-off earlier could have allowed the match to take place before the worst of the thunderstorm activity gets going - although this was certainly not guaranteed.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

A massive July Fourth celebration on Washington's National Mall was evacuated on Saturday, due to an approaching severe thunderstorm, AFP reporters said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

Some worked 30-hour shifts in triple-digit heat and a flash heavy thunderstorm Friday evening as the celebration continued into the early hours of Saturday morning, keeping personnel on site through sunrise.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

And, during the group stage here, France’s win over Iraq in Philadelphia was delayed for 2 hours and 11 minutes because of a major thunderstorm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

It was getting late, the summer evening was fading, and the old bus shelter felt musty and damp after a recent thunderstorm.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

If the fire is powerful enough and the atmosphere is unstable, that cloud can grow into a cumulonimbus - the same type of cloud associated with thunderstorms.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

The flight ended up being canceled because of thunderstorms, the report said, but was one of a number of last-minute requests made by the Vances.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

However, some experts contend that area thunderstorms on Saturday might help alleviate and disperse the worst of the concerns.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

Despite some scattered thunderstorms, the heat is bringing added fire risks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Bristle tipped her head to assess the sky and sniff the breeze, which carried the threat of thunderstorms from the south.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Related Words

• deluge
• downpour
• drizzle
• flood
• hail
• rain
• rainstorm
• sleet
• storm