storm

1 of 2

noun

plural storms
often attributive
1
a
: a disturbance of the atmosphere marked by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning
b
: a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail
c(1)
: wind having a speed of 64 to 72 miles (103 to 117 kilometers) per hour
d
: a serious disturbance of any element of nature
2
: a disturbed or agitated state
storms of emotion
: a sudden or violent commotion
3
: a heavy discharge of objects (such as missiles)
4
: a tumultuous outburst
a storm of protests
5
b
: a sudden heavy influx or onset
c
medicine : the sudden and often dangerous onset, increase, or worsening of the symptoms of a disease see also cytokine storm, thyroid storm
6
: a violent assault on a defended position
7
storms plural : storm window

storm

2 of 2

verb

stormed; storming; storms

intransitive verb

1
a
: to blow with violence
b
: to rain, hail, snow, or sleet vigorously
2
: to attack by storm
stormed ashore at zero hour
3
: to be in or to exhibit a violent passion : rage
storming at the unusual delay
4
: to rush about or move impetuously, violently, or angrily
the mob stormed through the streets

transitive verb

: to attack, take, or win over by storm
storm a fort
Phrases
by storm
: by or as if by employing a bold swift frontal movement especially with the intent of defeating or winning over quickly
took the literary world by storm
up a storm
: in a remarkable or energetic fashion
used as an intensifier
dancing up a storm
Choose the Right Synonym for storm

attack, assail, assault, bombard, storm mean to make an onslaught upon.

attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

Examples of storm in a Sentence

Noun The sky got dark and it looked like a storm was coming. a winter storm bringing about six inches of snow Verb The mob stormed through the streets. She yelled at us and stormed off. He stormed out of the room. She stormed into the office.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Those areas are at risk for severe storms capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall. Dalia Faheid, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Find all of our coverage of the storms and the aftermath below, and refresh throughout the day for updates. Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024 Stivers and other lawmakers also pointed to recent winter storms in arguing for more comprehensive grid planning. Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2024 As a result of the Midwest storms, thousands of people were under a tornado watch or a tornado warning due to the severe weather. USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 The state’s emergency operations center was activated to coordinate storm response, Beshear said. The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024 Both areas were seeing batches of morning storms roll through, with additional development possible in the afternoon. Scott Dance, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 That could strain a budget already absorbing unexpected costs from January’s historic storm. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 Five people in Arkansas died because of the storms. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 13 Mar. 2024
Verb
Only a few aid organizations have been able to restart since Feb. 29, when gangs began attacking key institutions, burning police stations, shutting down the main international airport with gunfire and storming two prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. CBS News, 16 Mar. 2024 In July 2021, armed men stormed Moïse’s Port-au-Prince home and he was fatally shot. Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 That year also saw the end of the Donald Trump presidency in highly contentious circumstances, culminating in his supporters storming the U.S. Capitol days before President Joe Biden was inaugurated. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 The wrestler-actor made his presenting debut during Sunday’s ceremony in a bit that referenced the streaker who stormed the 1974 show. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 More than 300 students were taken early Thursday by the armed bandits on motorcycles who stormed the LEA Primary and Secondary School in the Kuriga village of Kaduna’s Chikun district, the state’s police spokesman Mansur Hassan said. Nimi Princewill, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Haiti’s armed gangs continued to strike against the country’s critical infrastructure Sunday, launching an assault against the police academy after storming two prisons in the capital and the port the night before after having already seized control of several police substations. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 In two of the recent civil trials, the former president directed his lawyers to object at inopportune moments, ranted about the judges and even stormed out of the courtroom. Ben Protess, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Only a couple of those groups turned up, and another protest group stormed the pavilion where Macron was holding forth, leading to an enormous scrummage with riot police. Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'storm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German sturm storm, Old English styrian to stir

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near storm

Cite this Entry

“Storm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/storm. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

storm

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning
b
: a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail
c
: a serious disturbance of any element of nature
2
: a disturbed state : a sudden or violent commotion
3
: a heavy discharge of objects
fired a storm of arrows at the castle
4
: a violent outburst
a storm of protest
5
: a violent attack on a defended position

storm

2 of 2 verb
1
a
: to blow with violence
b
: to rain, hail, snow, or sleet heavily
2
: to attack by storm
stormed ashore
storm the fort
3
: to show violent feeling : rage
storming at the unusual delay
4
: to rush about violently
the mob stormed through the streets

Medical Definition

storm

noun
: the sudden and often dangerous onset, increase, or worsening of the symptoms of a disease see also cytokine storm, thyroid storm

More from Merriam-Webster on storm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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