adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thundering
before 1100; Middle English thundring, Old English thunring thunder. See thunder, -ing 2, -ing 1
Explanation
Thundering describes a sound that is deep and resounding—or resembling thunder. The thundering sound of feet hurrying down the hall is one sign that school's over for the day. The sound of a thunderstorm can be described as thundering of course, but so can other loud, booming noises. You might love the thundering sound of a rock concert but hate the thundering voice of an angry parent scolding a child. This adjective comes from the verb thunder, which we can trace back to a root that means "resound."
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.
When we reached the top, the mighty falls thundering above us, triumph flickered across her face.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Having fouled Florent Malouda for France's opener, the towering defender levelled with a thundering header from Andrea Pirlo's corner inside 20 minutes.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
That was the beginning of the chants, arguably louder than for any other player in Dodger Stadium history, stronger than Moo-kie, deeper than Fred-die, chants thundering enough to seemingly be heard for a lifetime.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
“It was raining straight down, it was thundering and it was 27 degrees,” he said, recalling watching the storm early Sunday morning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
As they entered the basement, the sound of the steam thundering into the suppression pool was overwhelming.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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