hurricane

1 of 2

noun

hur·​ri·​cane ˈhər-ə-ˌkān How to pronounce hurricane (audio)
-i-kən,
ˈhə-rə-,
ˈhə-ri-
1
: a tropical cyclone with winds of 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour or greater that is usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning, and that sometimes moves into temperate latitudes

Note: Hurricane has traditionally been used especially when naming or referring to storms occurring in the western Atlantic; it is used for storms in the northeastern Pacific as well.

The people who bought homes there would never find out the truth, unless a hurricane came and blew off their roofs and knocked down their walls.Carl Hiassen
A few days after Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, a small group of strangers on bicycles showed up in the Algiers neighborhood, knocking on doors and asking if anyone needed medical attention.Tim Shorrock
The most recent system was Hurricane Erick, which charged towards Hawaii with winds topping 130mph as a category four system.Katie Sewell
compare typhoon see Beaufort Scale Table
2
: something resembling a hurricane especially in its turmoil
a rushing hurricane of blows struck him as he stood upDonn Byrne

hurricane

2 of 2

adjective

: having or being a glass chimney (see chimney sense 4) providing protection from wind
a hurricane lamp

Examples of hurricane in a Sentence

Noun economic news that unleashed a hurricane on the trading floor
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The scientific consensus is stark: rising global temperatures will increase the likelihood of severe hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and dangerously hot days across the globe. Robert B. Tucker, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 November is usually a quiet month for hurricanes, as the season is winding down. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment – including warm, standing water – could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria. From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2022 The rocket, known as the Space Launch System and standing 322 feet tall with its payload on top, appears to be pretty hurricane resistant. Kenneth Chang, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2022 See all Example Sentences for hurricane 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hurricane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Spanish huracán, from Taino hurakán

First Known Use

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hurricane was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near hurricane

Cite this Entry

“Hurricane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurricane. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

hurricane

noun
hur·​ri·​cane
ˈhər-ə-ˌkān,
-i-kən,
ˈhə-rə-,
ˈhə-ri-
: a cyclone formed in the tropics with winds of 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour or greater that is usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning

More from Merriam-Webster on hurricane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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