# tempest

/ˈtɛmpəst/ (US) · /tˈɛmpəst/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tempest
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

a very violent and windy storm. It is a dramatic word often used in stories or poems to describe powerful weather.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the figurative phrase 'a tempest in a teapot' to describe a small problem that is exaggerated.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.