thunderstorm

noun

thun·​der·​storm ˈthən-dər-ˌstȯrm 

: a storm accompanied by lightning and thunder

Examples of thunderstorm in a Sentence

There are thunderstorms in the forecast.

The weather service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning.

Recent Examples on the Web

An unusually long and far-reaching communications outage hobbled the National Weather Service just as deadly severe thunderstorms were tearing across the Midwest and Ohio Valley on Tuesday evening. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

The highest chances of showers and thunderstorms will be Wednesday night through Friday morning. — Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

On its tail in the eastern tropical Atlantic is another tropical wave several hundred miles south of the Cape Verde Islands with disorganized showers and thunderstorms. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026

Air in the Midwest is becoming more saturated with humidity as human activities release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, providing a key ingredient for strong thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thunderstorm

• chloroform
• coliform
• cribriform
• cruciform
• filiform
• fusiform
• isoform
• microform
• multiform
• outperform
• piriform
• plexiform

Kids Definition

thunderstorm

noun

thun·​der·​storm -ˌstȯ(ə)rm 

: a storm accompanied by lightning and thunder