tropical storm
Americannoun
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A tropical cyclone having sustained surface winds between 39 and 73 mi (63 and 118 km) per hour.
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See Note at cyclone
Etymology
Origin of tropical storm
First recorded in 1940–45
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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.
In August 1977, humidity and heat from a tropical storm was blamed for killing 725 dairy cows in Chino.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026
A tropical storm has exacerbated conditions, and the tolls in Indonesia and Thailand rank among the highest in floods in those countries in recent years.
From Barron's • Nov. 30, 2025
It was significant because it underwent an exceptionally rapid strengthening, going from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in about a day.
From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025
By 21 October it had reached tropical storm strength and by 26 October, it was a Category 4 beast churning through the Caribbean Sea.
From BBC • Oct. 28, 2025
But why were they going there in the middle of a tropical storm that used to be a hurricane?
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
