sonic boom
noun
: a sound resembling an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground
called also sonic bang
Examples of sonic boom in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The first-stage booster for the flight is making its second trip to space, but will be the first to touch back down at SpaceX’s new landing pad constructed alongside the launch tower at SLC-40, and could bring a sonic boom to parts of Central Florida.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
The environmental noise ranged from traffic sounds to sonic booms.
—Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
The surge in rocket launches creates intense sonic booms affecting residents in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties while threatening endangered species on the base.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The F-15s will now be used to support research flights of NASA's new X-59 'quiet' supersonic jet, an aircraft designed to fly at supersonic speeds without producing the thunderous sonic booms typically associated with breaking the sound barrier.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
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Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
The environmental noise ranged from traffic sounds to sonic booms.
—Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
The surge in rocket launches creates intense sonic booms affecting residents in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties while threatening endangered species on the base.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The F-15s will now be used to support research flights of NASA's new X-59 'quiet' supersonic jet, an aircraft designed to fly at supersonic speeds without producing the thunderous sonic booms typically associated with breaking the sound barrier.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sonic boom
Cite this Entry
“Sonic boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic%20boom. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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