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

To this day I can’t shake a three-sentence description of birds driven onto cholla thorns by the winds of a thunderstorm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

A bad thunderstorm can knock out the lights to half the city.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

The stakes go far beyond daily routines or vacation itineraries; small businesses lose out on potential foot traffic and revenue whenever a thunderstorm icon appears, even if it’s bright and sunny outside.

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

The 30-year-old, who has not been named by authorities, was on the active volcano on Sunday when a thunderstorm broke out, Italian media report.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Ivan’s mom smelled like the river after a thunderstorm, and a handful of salt crystals, and some kind of flower that Anya couldn’t place, and an ice-cold winter night.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

The light from occasional thunderstorms often provides the only illumination.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

Earlier Tuesday afternoon, the weather service said thunderstorms were already dumping heavy rain across the region, with more rain on the horizon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

The findings suggest that thunderstorms developing near the lower level circulation may play a more active role in storm organization than simply serving as a visible sign that strengthening is underway.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Precipitation peaks in winter, potentially bringing flooding and coastal erosion to California and severe thunderstorms to Gulf states.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

I would snuggle into Papa’s arms when harmattan thunderstorms raged outside, flinging mangoes against the window netting and making the electric wires hit each other and spark bright orange flames.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

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