thunder

1 of 2

noun

thun·​der ˈthən-dər How to pronounce thunder (audio)
1
: the sound that follows a flash of lightning and is caused by sudden expansion of the air in the path of the electrical discharge
2
: bang, rumble
the thunder of big guns
3
: a loud utterance or threat

thunder

2 of 2

verb

thundered; thundering ˈthən-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce thunder (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to produce thunder
usually used impersonally
it thundered
b
: to give forth a sound that resembles thunder
horses thundered down the road
2
: roar, shout

transitive verb

1
: to utter loudly : roar
2
: to strike with a sound likened to thunder
thunderer noun

Examples of thunder in a Sentence

Noun Her dog is afraid of thunder. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed. Suddenly there was a loud clap of thunder. We could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance. the thunder of horses' hooves the distant thunder of cannon fire She accepted the award to a thunder of applause. Verb The sky thundered and the rain poured down. It was raining and thundering all night. Guns thundered in the distance. Horses thundered down the road. Trucks thundered past on the highway. “How dare you come into my house!” he thundered.
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.
Noun
The Padres have plenty of thunder in their offense, but Alonso may be a missing piece that gets them closer to defeating the Dodgers. Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 The deity is also linked to earthquakes, thunder, darkness, storms, and death and was widely regarded as the most powerful force of evil in Egyptian theology. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Forty percent of countries have had a woman leader, but Harris’s governance of one of the world’s most powerful states would send a thundering message across the globe. Linda Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2024 The thundering Danny Elfman score and the catchy Prince songs, Anton Furst’s gothic production design and Jack Nicholson’s bombastic performance: Batman is bold and giddy, powered by artists who have been allowed to dream big. Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for thunder 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English thoner, thunder, from Old English thunor; akin to Old High German thonar thunder, Latin tonare to thunder

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of thunder was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near thunder

Cite this Entry

“Thunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thunder. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

thunder

1 of 2 noun
thun·​der ˈthən-dər How to pronounce thunder (audio)
1
: the loud sound that follows a flash of lightning
2
: a noise like thunder

thunder

2 of 2 verb
thundered; thundering -d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce thunder (audio)
1
a
: to produce thunder
b
: to produce a sound like thunder
horses thundered down the road
2
: to utter loudly
the people thundered their approval
thunderer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on thunder

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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