tornado
noun
tor·na·do
tȯr-ˈnā-(ˌ)dō 
plural tornadoes or tornados
1
a
: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land
b
: a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa
2
: a violent windstorm : whirlwind
3
archaic
: a tropical thunderstorm
Examples of tornado in a Sentence
in the path of a tornado
Recent Examples on the Web
Heat warnings are not consumed with the same sense of urgency as tornado or hurricane warnings.
—
Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
An isolated tornado or two and some instances of flash flooding are also possible on Thursday across the Great Plains, including South Dakota, southeast Montana, northeast Wyoming and northern Nebraska.
—Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 4 June 2026
That is, before an actual tornado sweeps through Pine Valley, right in the middle of a black-tie event and in time to boost summer ratings.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Fires ravaged the ballpark’s left-field bleachers in May 1926, and a tornado’s ferocious winds tore through additional sections of seats that July, and ownership could not afford to renovate.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tornado
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Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
An isolated tornado or two and some instances of flash flooding are also possible on Thursday across the Great Plains, including South Dakota, southeast Montana, northeast Wyoming and northern Nebraska.
—Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 4 June 2026
That is, before an actual tornado sweeps through Pine Valley, right in the middle of a black-tie event and in time to boost summer ratings.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Fires ravaged the ballpark’s left-field bleachers in May 1926, and a tornado’s ferocious winds tore through additional sections of seats that July, and ownership could not afford to renovate.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tornado
Cite this Entry
“Tornado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tornado. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tornado
noun
tor·na·do
tȯr-ˈnād-ō
plural tornadoes or tornados
: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that moves in a narrow path over the land
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