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

Thursday afternoon’s thunderstorms could pack rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour — an intensity that can quickly overwhelm drainage systems and flood urban areas. — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

Showers and thunderstorms could return on Wednesday, with a few light showers brushing far northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. — Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026

Residents in Texas Hill Country are already dealing with thunderstorms and flooding. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 21 July 2026

The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above. — Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 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