# thunder

/ˈθəndɝ/ (US) · /θˈʌndɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thunder
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sound from lightning

noun · CEFR A2

the loud noise that follows a flash of lightning during a storm.

For teachers: the loud rumbling or crashing sound caused by the rapid expansion of air heated by a lightning bolt.

- The children hid under the blankets when they heard the loud thunder outside.
- A sudden crack of thunder shook the windows, followed immediately by a torrential downpour that flooded the garden paths.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun, but 'a clap of thunder' or 'a crack of thunder' is used for a single sound.

### 2. a deep rumbling noise

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a deep, heavy sound that reminds you of a storm.

For teachers: a deep, resonant, and continuous sound resembling atmospheric thunder.

- We could hear the thunder of the waterfall long before we saw it.
- The distant thunder of heavy machinery signaled that the construction crew had begun clearing the site for the new stadium.

### 3. the weather

verb · CEFR A2

when the sky makes a loud noise during a storm.

For teachers: to produce the sound of thunder during a meteorological event; used impersonally with 'it'.

- It started to thunder just as we were finishing our picnic in the park.
- The sky grew dark and it began to thunder, forcing the referee to suspend the match for the safety of the players.

### 4. to move loudly

verb · CEFR B2

to move very fast while making a loud, heavy noise.

For teachers: to move with great speed and resonance, typically creating a heavy vibration.

- The express train thundered through the small station without stopping.
- A herd of wild horses thundered across the plains, kicking up clouds of dust that obscured the horizon.

### 5. to speak loudly

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

to shout something in a very loud, angry, or powerful voice.

For teachers: to utter something with a loud, forceful, or threatening tone.

- The judge thundered at the lawyer to sit down and be quiet.
- The preacher thundered his message from the pulpit, his voice echoing off the stone walls of the ancient cathedral.

## Examples

- The loud thunder woke me up in the middle of the night.
- We decided to stay inside because we could hear thunder rolling in the distance.
- The sudden crack of thunder echoed through the valley, signaling the arrival of a storm that would last for several hours.

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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.