tropical storm

noun

: a tropical cyclone with strong winds of over 39 miles (63 kilometers) per hour but less than hurricane intensity

Examples of tropical storm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once embedded in a favorable environment, a tropical storm can intensify toward a maximum possible strength. — Chanh Kieu, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Southern California has had a particularly swampy summer, thanks to tropical storm remnants and unusually warm ocean temperatures. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

In 2021, the park was hit by a tropical storm, and the river rose a couple of inches into the home of Rogers and his wife, Sandra. — Ren Larson, ProPublica, 28 Sep. 2026

So far the hurricane season has yet to produce an actual hurricane, though, but has seen the formation of tropical storms Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly and Edouard. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tropical storm

• cuneiform
• iodoform
• nonuniform
• brainstorm
• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• inform
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform

Kids Definition

tropical storm

noun

: a cyclone in or originating in the tropics that has very strong winds of less than hurricane strength