hur·ri·cane
ˈhər-ə-ˌkān 
-i-kən,
ˈhə-rə-,
ˈhə-ri-
1
: a tropical cyclone with winds of 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour or greater that is usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning, and that sometimes moves into temperate latitudes
Note: Hurricane has traditionally been used especially when naming or referring to storms occurring in the western Atlantic; it is used for storms in the northeastern Pacific as well.
The people who bought homes there would never find out the truth, unless a hurricane came and blew off their roofs and knocked down their walls.—
Carl Hiassen
Carl HiassenA few days after Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, a small group of strangers on bicycles showed up in the Algiers neighborhood, knocking on doors and asking if anyone needed medical attention.—Tim Shorrock
Tim ShorrockThe most recent system was Hurricane Erick, which charged towards Hawaii with winds topping 130mph as a category four system.—Katie Sewell
compare typhoon see Beaufort Scale Table
Katie Sewell2
: something resembling a hurricane especially in its turmoil
a rushing hurricane of blows struck him as he stood up—Donn Byrne
Donn Byrne
: having or being a glass chimney (see chimney sense 4) providing protection from wind
a hurricane lamp
Examples of hurricane in a Sentence
Noun
economic news that unleashed a hurricane on the trading floor
Recent Examples on the Web
Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Photograph: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images Less than two weeks before the start of hurricane season, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency rescinded the agency’s strategic plan, which includes a document that guides agency priorities when responding to disasters, WIRED has learned.
—Molly Taft, Wired News, 21 May 2025
Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment – including warm, standing water – could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for hurricane
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, with President Donald Trump’s plans for FEMA still unclear.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Photograph: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images Less than two weeks before the start of hurricane season, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency rescinded the agency’s strategic plan, which includes a document that guides agency priorities when responding to disasters, WIRED has learned.
—Molly Taft, Wired News, 21 May 2025
Adjective
The anthology examines the social and historical impact of the hurricane on Puerto Rico’s debt crisis, as well as a shifting identity of Puerto Ricans following the post-hurricane exodus from the island.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment – including warm, standing water – could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for hurricane
Cite this Entry
“Hurricane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurricane. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share