storm

¹ American  

[stawrm] / stɔrm /

noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms:

   blizzard, wind, squall, cyclone, tornado, tempest, hurricane, gale

2. a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.

3. Also called violent storm.  Meteorology. a wind of 64–72 miles per hour (29–32 meters per second).

4. a violent military assault on a fortified place, strong position, or the like.

5. a heavy or sudden volley or discharge.

   a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.

6. a violent disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.

7. a violent outburst or outbreak of expression.

   a storm of applause.

8. Informal. storm window.

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verb (used without object)

1. (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.

2. to rage or complain with violence or fury.

   He stormed angrily at me.

3. to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery.

   The troops stormed against the garrison.

4. to rush to an assault or attack.

   The tanks stormed towards the city.

5. to rush angrily.

   to storm out of a room.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to or as if to a storm.

   The salesman stormed them with offers.

2. to utter or say with angry vehemence.

   The strikers stormed their demands.

3. to attack or assault (persons, places, or things).

   to storm a fortress.

idioms

1. storm in a teacup. teacup.

Storm ² American  

[shtohrm] / ʃtoʊrm /

noun

1. Theodore Woldsen 1817–88, German poet and novelist.

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storm British  

/ stɔːm /

noun

1. 1. a violent weather condition of strong winds, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, blowing sand, snow, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      storm signal

      storm sail

   3. ( in combination )

      stormproof

2. meteorol a violent gale of force 10 on the Beaufort scale reaching speeds of 55 to 63 mph

3. a strong or violent reaction

   a storm of protest

4. a direct assault on a stronghold

5. a heavy discharge or rain, as of bullets or missiles

6. short for storm window

7. US equivalent: tempest in a teapot.  a violent fuss or disturbance over a trivial matter

8. 1. to capture or overrun by a violent assault

   2. to overwhelm and enthral

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verb

1. to attack or capture (something) suddenly and violently

2. (intr) to be vociferously angry

3. (intr) to move or rush violently or angrily

4. (intr; with it as subject) to rain, hail, or snow hard and be very windy, often with thunder or lightning

storm Scientific  

/ stôrm /

1. A low-pressure atmospheric disturbance resulting in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning.

2. A wind with a speed from 103 to 117 km (64 to 73 mi) per hour, rating 11 on the Beaufort scale.

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storm More Idioms  

1. see any port in a storm; kick up a fuss (storm); ride out (the storm); take by storm; weather the storm.

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Other Word Forms

• outstorm verb (used with object)
• stormlike adjective
• unstormed adjective

Etymology

Origin of storm

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

Example Sentences

Adriana Gonzalez said she was asleep when she got the call that her father was being detained, prompting her to storm out of the house without shoes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

"When there's no wind or storm, not a week goes by without flights taking off from here. The hangar door opens right onto the runway. That's a real competitive advantage," said Canguilhem.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Meanwhile, some flights were disrupted on Crete on Wednesday after dust from an African storm filled the air, turning the sky red-orange.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

We saw how that worked out for USC, which abruptly canceled a scheduled debate after a storm of criticism over its selection process and the exclusion of those four candidates.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Rowdy must have known that a storm was brewing.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• blizzard
• cloudburst
• cyclone
• disturbance
• gale
• hurricane
• monsoon
• snowstorm
• squall
• tempest