storm

1 of 2

noun

ˈstȯrm 

plural storms

often attributive

1

a

: a disturbance of the atmosphere marked by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning

b

: a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail

c(1)

: wind having a speed of 64 to 72 miles (103 to 117 kilometers) per hour

(2)

: whole gale see Beaufort Scale Table

d

: a serious disturbance of any element of nature

2

: a disturbed or agitated state

storms of emotion

: a sudden or violent commotion

3

: a heavy discharge of objects (such as missiles)

4

: a tumultuous outburst

a storm of protests

5

a

: paroxysm sense 2

b

: a sudden heavy influx or onset

c

medicine : the sudden and often dangerous onset, increase, or worsening of the symptoms of a disease see also cytokine storm, thyroid storm

6

: a violent assault on a defended position

7

storms plural : storm window

storm

2 of 2

verb

stormed; storming; storms

intransitive verb

1

a

: to blow with violence

b

: to rain, hail, snow, or sleet vigorously

2

: to attack by storm

stormed ashore at zero hour

3

: to be in or to exhibit a violent passion : rage

storming at the unusual delay

4

: to rush about or move impetuously, violently, or angrily

the mob stormed through the streets

transitive verb

: to attack, take, or win over by storm

storm a fort

Phrases

by storm

: by or as if by employing a bold swift frontal movement especially with the intent of defeating or winning over quickly

took the literary world by storm

up a storm

: in a remarkable or energetic fashion

—used as an intensifier

dancing up a storm

Synonyms

Noun

• thunderstorm
• hurricane
• blizzard
• cyclone

Verb

• rage

Choose the Right Synonym for storm

attack, assail, assault, bombard, storm mean to make an onslaught upon.

attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Examples of storm in a Sentence

Noun

The sky got dark and it looked like a storm was coming.

a winter storm bringing about six inches of snow

Verb

The mob stormed through the streets.

She yelled at us and stormed off.

He stormed out of the room.

She stormed into the office.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The chairman claimed his words had been taken out of context, but his comments were splashed across the back of the newspapers and caused a storm of controversy. —Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

The line of storms moved faster than anticipated, and that reduced the flooding risk. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025

Verb

Elsewhere, North Carolina was a yard away from picking up a top-20 win over Virginia, while Texas stormed back from down 17 in the fourth quarter to defeat Mississippi State after a report linked Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian to NFL openings. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2025

The Jayhawks started the game on a 9-0 run, but the Cardinals stormed back with a 12-0 run of their own. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German sturm storm, Old English styrian to stir

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing storm

• any port in a storm
• a storm in a teacup
• cytokine storm
• cytokine storm syndrome
• dust storm
• electrical storm
• geomagnetic storm
• get/be caught in a storm
• ice storm
• kick/whip/stir up a storm
• line storm
• magnetic storm
• perfect storm
• ride out the storm
• storm and stress
• storm cellar
• storm cloud
• storm door
• storm drain
• storm petrel
• storm trooper
• storm window
• take (a place) by storm
• take (something) by storm
• the calm/lull before the storm
• thyroid storm
• tropical storm
• tweet storm
• violent storm
• weather the storm

Rhymes for storm

• corm
• dorm
• form
• forme
• norm
• swarm
• warm
• brainstorm
• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm

Kids Definition

storm

1 of 2 noun

ˈstȯ(ə)rm 

1

a

: a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning

b

: a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail

c

: a serious disturbance of any element of nature

2

: a disturbed state : a sudden or violent commotion

3

: a heavy discharge of objects

fired a storm of arrows at the castle

4

: a violent outburst

a storm of protest

5

: a violent attack on a defended position

storm

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to blow with violence

b

: to rain, hail, snow, or sleet heavily

2

: to attack by storm

stormed ashore

storm the fort

3

: to show violent feeling : rage

storming at the unusual delay

4

: to rush about violently

the mob stormed through the streets

Medical Definition

storm

noun

ˈstȯ(ə)rm 

: the sudden and often dangerous onset, increase, or worsening of the symptoms of a disease see also cytokine storm, thyroid storm