hurricane

1 of 2

noun

hur·​ri·​cane ˈhər-ə-ˌkān How to pronounce hurricane (audio)
-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
A 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
The 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
2
: something resembling a hurricane especially in its turmoil
a rushing hurricane of blows struck him as he stood upDonn Byrne

hurricane

2 of 2

adjective

: 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
Noun
Suggesting using nuclear weapons to stop a hurricane. Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Disproportionate Impact Natural hazards, ranging from hurricanes to floods, often amplify existing inequalities, disproportionately affecting Black communities. Monica Sanders, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Other benefits include their resilience to hurricanes and fire. Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 To make the technology more robust and attractive, Icon has a research and design arm that is working on different systems to print in different climates, as well as a program testing wall resiliency against tornadoes, hurricanes and storms, Yashar says. Jim Morrison, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024 This heartland hurricane’s name is Sharon Stevens (Hilary Swank), a local hairdresser with a big personality, who learns of the Schmitts’ plight in the newspaper while buying a six-pack the morning after a bender. Jen Yamato, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 Changes to the cone graphic, and all hurricane center communication tools, are heavily researched with focus groups and social scientists studying how best to convey information quickly. The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 It’s meant to show the hurricane center’s best guess for where the eye of the storm will travel, with a cone around it that follows a formula based on the average errors the hurricane center makes when tracking a storm. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024 Reducing emissions by decarbonizing buildings with heat pumps will also slow climate change, reducing the severity of increasingly destructive wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters. Matt Simon, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024
Adjective
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 The rocket, known as the Space Launch System and standing 322 feet tall with its payload on top, appears to be pretty hurricane resistant. Kenneth Chang, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2022 The disaster at the 12-story oceanfront condo building in Surfside drew the largest non-hurricane emergency response in Florida history, including rescue crews from across the U.S. and as far away as Israel to help local teams search for victims. CBS News, 28 Oct. 2022 DeSantis has been all over the state in the weeks since, announcing post-hurricane clean-up projects. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2022 In visiting Florida post-hurricane, President Joe Biden has found himself in the crosswinds of two potential 2024 re-election opponents, Former President Donald Trump and current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2022 The onslaught of mental anguish and post-hurricane dangers can seem overwhelming. Holly Yan, CNN, 29 Sep. 2022 Puerto Ricans await aid and fret about post-hurricane recovery. Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hurricane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Spanish huracán, from Taino hurakán

First Known Use

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hurricane was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near hurricane

Cite this Entry

“Hurricane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurricane. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hurricane

noun
hur·​ri·​cane
ˈhər-ə-ˌkān,
-i-kən,
ˈhə-rə-,
ˈhə-ri-
: a cyclone formed in the tropics with winds of 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour or greater that is usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning

More from Merriam-Webster on hurricane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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