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)

thunders, present (3rd person singular) thundered, past participle, past thundering present participle

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)

thunders, present (3rd person singular) thundered, past participle, past thundering present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has thundered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have thundered
  perfect
• is thundering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been thundering
  perfect progressive
• am thundering
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been thundering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• thunders
  singular 3rd person
• are thundering
  progressive
• thundering
  participle

Past

• had thundered
  perfect
• were thundering
  progressive plural
• had been thundering
  perfect progressive
• thundered
  participle
• was thundering
  progressive singular
• thundered
  simple

Future

• will thunder
  simple
• will have thundered
  perfect
• will have been thundering
  perfect progressive
• will be thundering
  progressive

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

Explanation

Thunder is the loud noise that comes right after lightning. It also can refer to a loud, booming sound, or mean to move heavily but quickly. Thunder is made up of the rumbles and cracks accompanying lightning during a thunderstorm. You can also use this word for other loud noises, like the thunder of a loud rock band or your uncle's booming voice. A powerful singer can be said to thunder, singing in a way that's as noisy and impressive as a thunderstorm. Thunder can also be used for big, fast movements, like a tank thundering across a field or a truck thundering down the highway.

Example Sentences

Donald Trump paid a visit to the Temple of Heaven in the Chinese capital on Thursday, but the US president had a face like thunder.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Most parts of the UK should see mild and mostly dry weather on bank holiday Monday but heavy showers and thunder is possible in some areas.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

And when the stormy morning after arrives, each peal of thunder sends Julia into a paroxysm of nerves that flings her around like a handkerchief caught in a stiff breeze.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Commodity prices lead consumer prices the way thunder follows lightning.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

“Aw, Daisy,” I said, “I like to read hunting and fishing stories. I don’t like to read anything else. I wouldn’t like to read anything about an old thunder god.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• detonation
• explosion
• roar
• rumble