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

The tropical storm brought large waves and flooding to some oceanfront homes in Southern California. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026

Marian and Larry get to dancing, and Larry offers to share his cab home with Marian in the midst of a tropical storm — based on a real one in 1885 — that has hit New York, spooking the horses pulling their carriage into breaking one of the wheels. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2026

Several Southern California communities have been hit by flooding, coastal erosion and considerable damage from a series of tropical storms and hurricanes that formed in the Pacific Ocean, along with a rare phenomenon called a Kelvin wave. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

This brings tropical storm strength gusts to South Florida on Sunday and Monday and shoves more water ashore. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 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