Word
tempest
Phoneticstem·pest, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛmpəst/
UK/tˈɛmpəst/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very violent and windy storm. It is a dramatic word often used in stories or poems to describe powerful weather.
n. a violent windstorm, frequently accompanied by rain, snow, or hail. Primarily literary in register; often used metaphorically to describe a period of great emotional or political upheaval.
Examples
“The small boat struggled to stay afloat during the sudden tempest.”
“The captain ordered the crew to secure the sails before the approaching tempest reached the harbor.”
“The poet uses the image of a gathering tempest to mirror the protagonist's internal conflict as he prepares for the inevitable confrontation.”
Examples
simple
“The small boat struggled to stay afloat during the sudden tempest.”
contextual
“The captain ordered the crew to secure the sails before the approaching tempest reached the harbor.”
complex
“The poet uses the image of a gathering tempest to mirror the protagonist's internal conflict as he prepares for the inevitable confrontation.”
Usage
Often used in the figurative phrase 'a tempest in a teapot' to describe a small problem that is exaggerated.
Real-World Examples
“The tempest churned northward into Alabama on Saturday with fierce tropical-storm-force winds before weakening into a post-tropical cyclone and tracking further north towards the Appalachians.” “We shall never allow that torch of freedom to be blown out, however high the wind or stormy the tempest.” “Tempests rage, but the still, small voice of the alto flute gently persists.” Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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