blizzard

noun

bliz·zard | \ ˈbli-zərd

Definition of blizzard

1 : a long severe snowstorm

2 : an intensely strong cold wind filled with fine snow

3 : an overwhelming rush or deluge a blizzard of mail around the holidays

Other Words from blizzard Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about blizzard

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Did You Know?

The earliest recorded appearance of the word blizzard meaning “a severe snowstorm” was in the April 23, 1870 issue of a newspaper published in Estherville, Iowa. Blizzard shows up again during the following years in several newspapers in Iowa and neighboring states, and by 1888, when a snowstorm paralyzed the Eastern seaboard, the word was well-known nationally. However, in other senses, the word blizzard existed earlier. Davy Crocket, for instance, used it twice in the 1830s, once to mean a rifle blast and once to mean for a blast of words. All of these uses seem related, but the ultimate origin of the word is still unclear.

Examples of blizzard in a Sentence

We were snowed in by a raging blizzard.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meteorologists predict that the strength of this unlikely spring blizzard may rival the bomb cyclone that slammed more than 70 million people in March. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "A Brutal Spring Snow Storm Is Going to Slam 200 Million People Across the U.S. This Week," 9 Apr. 2019 What can happen during a bomb cyclone is heavy rain, snow, flooding, blizzard conditions, and high winds. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "What You Should Do to Prepare for the Bomb Cyclone That's Coming," 13 Mar. 2019 The National Weather Service has issued a high winds warning targeting the areas from the Big Bend of Texas into the Plains, blizzard warnings from Colorado to North Dakota, and a winter storm watch for the entire Plains area. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "What You Should Do to Prepare for the Bomb Cyclone That's Coming," 13 Mar. 2019 In the morning, Ulmer will continue to hit the northern Plains with blizzard conditions and strong winds. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "A Bomb Cyclone Will Slam 70 Million People Across the U.S. Because Winter Just Won't Quit," 13 Mar. 2019 As quickly as a squall can turn into a blizzard, the men’s fashion harness has made its swift return to the red carpet, thanks to Louis Vuitton menswear creative director Virgil Abloh. — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, "Travis Scott Takes the Man Harness Into the Polar Vortex," 31 Jan. 2019 Work, eat, sleep, repeat RDR II begins with a desperate trek through a late-spring blizzard. — Daniel Starkey, Ars Technica, "Red Dead Redemption II review: Getting muddy in the wide-open frontier," 25 Oct. 2018 This meant long, cold nights in blizzards, in cars with tire chains, teaching people about the disease. — Eliza Mcgraw, Smithsonian, "Florence Sabin Pioneered Her Way in Medical Science, Then Made Sure Other Women Could Do the Same," 6 July 2018 Three more failed attempts owing to bad weather and even an earthquake followed, including a heartbreaking reversal just 100m from the top in 2016 when a blizzard suddenly descended. — Charlie Campbell / Beijing, Time, "'I Hate It.' Double-Amputee Climber Xia Boyu Vows Never to Return to Everest," 14 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blizzard.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.