downburst
noun
down·burst
ˈdau̇n-ˌbərst 
: a powerful downdraft usually associated with a thunderstorm that strikes the ground and deflects in all directions
also
: microburst
Examples of downburst in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Damage from derechos and downbursts causes more severe, concentrated damage, such as the collapse of a 37-story building in Brazil in 2011.
—
Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2025
The 56-meter yacht sank within 16 minutes of being struck by a downburst or tornado on the early morning of August 19.
—Radina Gigova, CNN, 5 Sep. 2024
The chief hazards include pockets of damaging winds caused by downbursts, which are thunderstorm winds that blow downward and then fan out when reaching the ground.
—Jeff Halverson, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
Straight-line winds, or downbursts, form when cold air rises in a thunderstorm to the point of condensation.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 3 Apr. 2024
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Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2025
The 56-meter yacht sank within 16 minutes of being struck by a downburst or tornado on the early morning of August 19.
—Radina Gigova, CNN, 5 Sep. 2024
The chief hazards include pockets of damaging winds caused by downbursts, which are thunderstorm winds that blow downward and then fan out when reaching the ground.
—Jeff Halverson, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
Straight-line winds, or downbursts, form when cold air rises in a thunderstorm to the point of condensation.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 3 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for downburst
Cite this Entry
“Downburst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downburst. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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