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
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of blizzard in a Sentence
We were snowed in by a raging blizzard.
Recent Examples of blizzard from the Web
-
Only these kids threw their homework, English papers and other schoolwork away, down a school stairwell, creating a blizzard of paper that left people on Twitter very jealous.
-
But its signature is its soft-serve ice cream and other treats, such as Blizzards and Chocolate Dipped Cones.
-
Blizzards and avalanches, frostbite and trench foot, and sleeping in a tiny tent dangling in thin air are part of the thrill.
-
More extreme storms, including hurricanes, blizzards and tornadoes, can injure people, as well.
-
Beecher Dierdorff, who died in 1966 in a helicopter crash while flying back and forth to rescue people during a blizzard;
-
Naturalist John Muir nearly perished in a freak blizzard on Shasta’s summit in 1875, but that only further seduced him.
-
For the few brave souls still trying to raise money for e-commerce startups, selling the next revolution in e-tailing is like hawking ice cream in a blizzard.
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.
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.
Origin and Etymology of blizzard
origin unknown
First Known Use: 1870
BLIZZARD Defined for English Language Learners
blizzard
playDefinition of blizzard for English Language Learners
-
: a severe snowstorm that goes on for a long time
-
: a large amount of something that comes suddenly
BLIZZARD Defined for Kids
blizzard
playDefinition of blizzard for Students
: a long heavy snowstorm
Learn More about blizzard
-
See words that rhyme with blizzard Spanish Central: Translation of blizzard Nglish: Translation of blizzard for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of blizzard for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blizzard
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up blizzard? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!