hur·ri·cane
ˈhər-ə-ˌkān 
-i-kən,
ˈhə-rə-,
ˈhə-ri-
1
: a tropical cyclone with winds of 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour or greater that is usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning, and that sometimes moves into temperate latitudes
Note: Hurricane has traditionally been used especially when naming or referring to storms occurring in the western Atlantic; it is used for storms in the northeastern Pacific as well.
The people who bought homes there would never find out the truth, unless a hurricane came and blew off their roofs and knocked down their walls.—
Carl Hiassen
Carl HiassenA few days after Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, a small group of strangers on bicycles showed up in the Algiers neighborhood, knocking on doors and asking if anyone needed medical attention.—Tim Shorrock
Tim ShorrockThe most recent system was Hurricane Erick, which charged towards Hawaii with winds topping 130mph as a category four system.—Katie Sewell
compare typhoon see Beaufort Scale Table
Katie Sewell2
: something resembling a hurricane especially in its turmoil
a rushing hurricane of blows struck him as he stood up—Donn Byrne
Donn Byrne
: having or being a glass chimney (see chimney sense 4) providing protection from wind
a hurricane lamp
Synonyms
Noun
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bother
- bustle
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- coil
- commotion
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- helter-skelter
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurly-burly
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle [chiefly British]
- moil
- pandemonium
- pother
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
- rumpus
- shindy
- splore [Scottish]
- squall
- stew
- stir
- storm
- to-do
- tumult
- turmoil
- uproar
- welter
- whirl
- williwaw
- zoo
Examples of hurricane in a Sentence
Noun
economic news that unleashed a hurricane on the trading floor
Recent Examples on the WebBrayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2024
Rising sea levels will inundate low-lying coastal regions and some small island states, and tropical cyclones and hurricanes will probably intensify.
—Kelly Sims Gallagher, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
So sculpturally, metaphorically, these works that represent very different ethnic backgrounds, will bend together, supporting each other, to survive a hurricane.
—Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
Fragile insurers could also be causing Floridians to default on their mortgages after hurricanes strike.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
Latest News on Climate Change and the Environment Card 1 of 5
A daunting hurricane season.
—Emma Bubola, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Although Aruba is relatively safe from hurricanes, the threat of what a severe storm or other extreme weather could do to its physical archives made Argondizzo nervous.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
First responders to the climate crisis Whenever there is a hurricane, tornado or wildfire, immigrant laborers are on the frontlines of recovery and rebuilding, Soni said.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Coral reefs also help to protect humans and their homes along the coastline from storm surges during hurricanes.
—David Fischer, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2022
The rocket, known as the Space Launch System and standing 322 feet tall with its payload on top, appears to be pretty hurricane resistant.
—Kenneth Chang, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2022
The disaster at the 12-story oceanfront condo building in Surfside drew the largest non-hurricane emergency response in Florida history, including rescue crews from across the U.S. and as far away as Israel to help local teams search for victims.
—CBS News, 28 Oct. 2022
DeSantis has been all over the state in the weeks since, announcing post-hurricane clean-up projects.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2022
In visiting Florida post-hurricane, President Joe Biden has found himself in the crosswinds of two potential 2024 re-election opponents, Former President Donald Trump and current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2022
The onslaught of mental anguish and post-hurricane dangers can seem overwhelming.
—Holly Yan, CNN, 29 Sep. 2022
Puerto Ricans await aid and fret about post-hurricane recovery.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2022
Noun
Portable generators less than $3,000 are tax-exempt, as are emergency ladders (not extension ladders) and hurricane shutters under $300.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2024
Rising sea levels will inundate low-lying coastal regions and some small island states, and tropical cyclones and hurricanes will probably intensify.
—Kelly Sims Gallagher, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
So sculpturally, metaphorically, these works that represent very different ethnic backgrounds, will bend together, supporting each other, to survive a hurricane.
—Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
Fragile insurers could also be causing Floridians to default on their mortgages after hurricanes strike.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
Latest News on Climate Change and the Environment Card 1 of 5
A daunting hurricane season.
—Emma Bubola, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Although Aruba is relatively safe from hurricanes, the threat of what a severe storm or other extreme weather could do to its physical archives made Argondizzo nervous.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
First responders to the climate crisis Whenever there is a hurricane, tornado or wildfire, immigrant laborers are on the frontlines of recovery and rebuilding, Soni said.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Coral reefs also help to protect humans and their homes along the coastline from storm surges during hurricanes.
—David Fischer, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment – including warm, standing water – could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2022
The rocket, known as the Space Launch System and standing 322 feet tall with its payload on top, appears to be pretty hurricane resistant.
—Kenneth Chang, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2022
The disaster at the 12-story oceanfront condo building in Surfside drew the largest non-hurricane emergency response in Florida history, including rescue crews from across the U.S. and as far away as Israel to help local teams search for victims.
—CBS News, 28 Oct. 2022
DeSantis has been all over the state in the weeks since, announcing post-hurricane clean-up projects.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2022
In visiting Florida post-hurricane, President Joe Biden has found himself in the crosswinds of two potential 2024 re-election opponents, Former President Donald Trump and current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2022
The onslaught of mental anguish and post-hurricane dangers can seem overwhelming.
—Holly Yan, CNN, 29 Sep. 2022
Puerto Ricans await aid and fret about post-hurricane recovery.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hurricane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to hurricane
Dictionary Entries Near hurricane
Cite this Entry
“Hurricane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurricane. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share