sonic boom
noun
: a sound resembling an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground
called also sonic bang
Examples of sonic boom in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Audible sonic booms are expected in the area around the landing zone as the returning booster slows down from supersonic speeds, SpaceX said.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024
During previous commission hearings, Space Force officials also brushed off questions about sonic booms, telling commissioners that their models had sonic booms occurring mostly over the Channel Islands.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024
But the liftoff, when all 33 of Super Heavy’s engines fired, wasn’t even the loudest moment—sound peaked about 6.5 minutes after launch, when the booster returned to its launch tower and caused a sonic boom.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024
Thursday’s speech was billed as a live transmission, but audiences were given reason to doubt around 20 minutes in, when Israel dropped flares over the Lebanese capital and sent windows shaking with a fresh wave of sonic booms.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sonic boom 
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.
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024
During previous commission hearings, Space Force officials also brushed off questions about sonic booms, telling commissioners that their models had sonic booms occurring mostly over the Channel Islands.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024
But the liftoff, when all 33 of Super Heavy’s engines fired, wasn’t even the loudest moment—sound peaked about 6.5 minutes after launch, when the booster returned to its launch tower and caused a sonic boom.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024
Thursday’s speech was billed as a live transmission, but audiences were given reason to doubt around 20 minutes in, when Israel dropped flares over the Lebanese capital and sent windows shaking with a fresh wave of sonic booms.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sonic boom
Articles Related to sonic boom
Dictionary Entries Near sonic boom
Cite this Entry
“Sonic boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic%20boom. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share