thunder

1 of 2

noun

thun·​der ˈthən-dər 

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 

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

ˈthən-dər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

Verb

• bellow
• boom
• growl
• roar

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

Noun

As guests start pouring in and the night moves on, the party grows rowdier and more decadent, while the inevitable clash between Marcos and Sofia thunders towards its shocking conclusion. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025

Gass said there also was a slight chance for thunder and lightning with some of the storm cells that move through, though none had been recorded before noon on Thursday. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025

Verb

Republican lawmakers who thundered about executive overreach during the Obama administration now face a president explicitly claiming the power to override their legislative authority. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

Stopping briefly at the ATM, the woman is swept off her feet when an explosion comes thundering through, leaving chaos, death and destruction in its wake. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing thunder

• a face like thunder
• steal one's thunder
• steal someone's thunder
• thunder egg
• thunder lizard

Kids Definition

thunder

1 of 2 noun

thun·​der ˈthən-dər 

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 

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

-dər-ər 

noun