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
Importantly, Boom demonstrated its first supersonic flight without producing an audible sonic boom on the ground.
—
Marisa Garcia, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
New technology in supersonic aircraft can allow the planes to fly faster than the speed of sound without a disruptive sonic boom being heard on the ground, but the regulations still ban those flights over land.
—Josh Funk, Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025
Sound designer Paul Arditti racks up the sonic booms and spectral shrieks by the dozen.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
In each case, the sonic boom marks the end of just one in a series of missions for the vehicle returning from flight.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
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.
Marisa Garcia, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
New technology in supersonic aircraft can allow the planes to fly faster than the speed of sound without a disruptive sonic boom being heard on the ground, but the regulations still ban those flights over land.
—Josh Funk, Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025
Sound designer Paul Arditti racks up the sonic booms and spectral shrieks by the dozen.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
In each case, the sonic boom marks the end of just one in a series of missions for the vehicle returning from flight.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sonic boom
Cite this Entry
“Sonic boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic%20boom. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share