cloudburst
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of cloudburst
Explanation
A cloudburst is a sudden deluge of rain that sends you running for cover. If the sky looks ominous and gray in the morning, you may want to grab an umbrella in case there's a cloudburst later. A cloudburst is exactly what it sounds like: torrential rain that seems to burst from a saturated cloud. This American English word was coined in the early 19th century, modeled after the German Wolkenbruch, or "cloud break." Whenever the weather abruptly changes from not raining to a downpour of heavy rain, you can call it a cloudburst.
Vocabulary lists containing cloudburst
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.
He might have been among the few people pleased with the cloudburst at the Italian event.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
A cloudburst is an extreme, sudden downpour of rain over a small area in a short period of time, often leading to flash floods.
From BBC • Aug. 6, 2025
Dozens of people are feared trapped after a massive cloudburst triggered flash floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.
From BBC • Aug. 5, 2025
After a heavy cloudburst forecast for Wednesday afternoon or night that could bring another few inches of rain, Southern California was expected to begin drying out Thursday and heading for a sunny weekend.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024
When it slowed back down to mere cloudburst, we set off together.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
