turbulence

noun

tur·​bu·​lence ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s How to pronounce turbulence (audio)
Synonyms of turbulencenext
: the quality or state of being turbulent: such as
a
: great commotion or agitation
emotional turbulence
b
: irregular atmospheric motion especially when characterized by up-and-down currents
c
: departure in a fluid from a smooth flow

Examples of turbulence in a Sentence

The plane hit quite a bit of turbulence during our flight. A period of turbulence preceded the riots.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Still, at just 23 and in his first full NHL season, some turbulence was expected. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026 Page noted that all eyes will be on the 77-year-old monarch and whether Charles can bring a sense of warmth and steady diplomacy during a period of turbulence. Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026 Romania was thrown into fresh turbulence when the largest ruling party withdrew backing for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, whose fragile coalition may be on the verge of falling apart. Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg, 21 Apr. 2026 This resulted a system that can produce highly detailed turbulence predictions in seconds, while reducing errors by more than half compared to previous methods. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turbulence

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of turbulence was in 1595

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turbulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turbulence. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

turbulence

noun
tur·​bu·​lence ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s How to pronounce turbulence (audio)
: the quality or state of being turbulent
especially : irregular atmospheric motion with up and down currents
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