tempest

1 of 2

noun

tem·​pest ˈtem-pəst 

1

: a violent storm

2

: tumult, uproar

tempest

2 of 2

verb

tempested; tempesting; tempests

transitive verb

: to raise a tempest in or around

Synonyms

Noun

• squall
• storm

Examples of tempest in a Sentence

Noun

the sudden summertime tempest drove us off the golf course and into the clubhouse

the town council handled the tempest over cuts to the school budget as well as could be expected

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Expansive rain from powerful Hurricane Helene left people stranded, without shelter and awaiting rescue Saturday as the cleanup began from a tempest that killed at least 64 people, caused widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast and left millions without power. —Stephen Smith, arkansasonline.com, 29 Sep. 2024

Research led by University of Michigan planetary scientist Cheng Li discovered a commonplace culprit behind Saturn’s tempests: water. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024

Hwang seems to be suggesting that a line can indeed be drawn from the cultural tempests – too easily dismissed as matters of political correctness – to the real-world tragedies and obscenities that send innocent men to jail and early graves. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024

Cleanup continued Sunday from a tempest that killed at least 64 people, caused widespread destruction across the southeastern states and knocked out power to several million people. —David Meyer, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tempeste, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Vulgar Latin *tempesta, replacing Latin tempestāt-, tempestās "stretch of time, period, season, weather, stormy weather," from tempes-, base of tempor-, tempus (alternative stem temper-) "time, period of time, season" + -tāt-, -tās, noun suffix — more at tempo

Note: The proto-Romance form *tempesta is probably a nominal derivative from the feminine of an adjective tempestus, cited by the Roman grammarian Sextus Pompeius Festus as an old variant of tempestīvus "in season, occurring at the proper time."

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tempest

• a tempest in a teapot
• tempest in a teapot

Kids Definition

tempest

noun

tem·​pest

ˈtem-pəst

1

: a violent wind

especially : one accompanied by rain, hail, or snow

2

: a violent commotion : uproar