storm

1 of 2

noun

plural storms
often attributive
1
a
: a disturbance of the atmosphere marked by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning
b
: a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail
c(1)
: wind having a speed of 64 to 72 miles (103 to 117 kilometers) per hour
d
: a serious disturbance of any element of nature
2
: a disturbed or agitated state
storms of emotion
: a sudden or violent commotion
3
: a heavy discharge of objects (such as missiles)
4
: a tumultuous outburst
a storm of protests
5
b
: a sudden heavy influx or onset
c
medicine : the sudden and often dangerous onset, increase, or worsening of the symptoms of a disease see also cytokine storm, thyroid storm
6
: a violent assault on a defended position
7
storms plural : storm window

storm

2 of 2

verb

stormed; storming; storms

intransitive verb

1
a
: to blow with violence
b
: to rain, hail, snow, or sleet vigorously
2
: to attack by storm
stormed ashore at zero hour
3
: to be in or to exhibit a violent passion : rage
storming at the unusual delay
4
: to rush about or move impetuously, violently, or angrily
the mob stormed through the streets

transitive verb

: to attack, take, or win over by storm
storm a fort
Phrases
by storm
: by or as if by employing a bold swift frontal movement especially with the intent of defeating or winning over quickly
took the literary world by storm
up a storm
: in a remarkable or energetic fashion
used as an intensifier
dancing up a storm
Choose the Right Synonym for storm

attack, assail, assault, bombard, storm mean to make an onslaught upon.

attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Examples of storm in a Sentence

Noun The sky got dark and it looked like a storm was coming. a winter storm bringing about six inches of snow Verb The mob stormed through the streets. She yelled at us and stormed off. He stormed out of the room. She stormed into the office.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Several Lake Tahoe ski resorts closed, and Yosemite National Park visitors were told to leave after California's most powerful storm of the season bore down on the region. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 Research has found climate change is fueling the rapid intensification of hurricanes, pushing storms to explode at a deadly pace. Laura Paddison, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 Part of the difficulty crews are facing during this storm is blowers breaking down due to the severe conditions. Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2024 Another approaching storm is expected to bring more snow on Monday and Tuesday in the Sierra Nevada. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Wildlands/wildflowers Last August’s storm has already inspired early blooms, and recent intense rain is expected to make for a terrific wildflower year overall. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 The line has taken the industry by storm, doing away with cliche cruise staples like main dining rooms, large buffets, and notoriously small staterooms. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base sustained a direct hit – by a tornado – during strong storms on Wednesday. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 29 Feb. 2024 Isolated strong to marginally severe storms will possibly develop overnight, mainly after midnight. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024
Verb
In the musical, a new ending imagines Dawn and Brad as mythological figures — gods, really — storming across a fantastic, scarlet-colored hellscape where pillars of honest-to-God fire illuminate their literal battle of the sexes. Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Haiti’s government declared a state of emergency and nighttime curfew late Sunday in an effort to regain control of the streets after an explosion of violence over the weekend saw armed gang members storm the country’s two biggest prisons. Evens Sanon and Pierre-Richard Luxama, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 The Gators won Friday’s opener 7-3, but Miami stormed back Saturday with three home runs and an impressive pitching performance by starter Rafe Schlesinger for his second win against no losses in 2024. Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 Armed with sandworms, big screen spectacle and the star power of Timothée Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve ’s science fiction epic stormed the North American box office this weekend earning $81.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. Lindsey Bahr, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2024 The Lakers led by 11 points in the first half, but Denver stormed back in the third quarter and dominated the final four minutes, outscoring the Lakers by 12. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 In some cases, teams get stuck in the ‘storming’ phase of teambuilding, unable to move into the norming and performing stage, or at least not as quickly. Anna Shields, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Two expectations from early February 2022 were never realized: that Russia’s superior military would storm through Kyiv in days, and that Western support would be chaotic and fractured. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 Arkansas took a 36-22 lead early after halftime when Maryam Dauda and Makayla Daniels knocked down three-pointers, but Texas A&M stormed back with a 10-0 run to force a timeout by Neighbors. Ethan Westerman, arkansasonline.com, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'storm.' 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

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German sturm storm, Old English styrian to stir

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of storm was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near storm

Cite this Entry

“Storm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/storm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

storm

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning
b
: a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail
c
: a serious disturbance of any element of nature
2
: a disturbed state : a sudden or violent commotion
3
: a heavy discharge of objects
fired a storm of arrows at the castle
4
: a violent outburst
a storm of protest
5
: a violent attack on a defended position

storm

2 of 2 verb
1
a
: to blow with violence
b
: to rain, hail, snow, or sleet heavily
2
: to attack by storm
stormed ashore
storm the fort
3
: to show violent feeling : rage
storming at the unusual delay
4
: to rush about violently
the mob stormed through the streets

Medical Definition

storm

noun
: the sudden and often dangerous onset, increase, or worsening of the symptoms of a disease see also cytokine storm, thyroid storm

More from Merriam-Webster on storm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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