# tornado

/tɔɹˈneɪˌdoʊ/ (US) · /tɔːnˈeɪdəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tornado
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. energetic person or thing

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person or thing that moves very fast and causes a lot of excitement or mess.

For teachers: a person or thing characterized by great energy, speed, or a tendency to cause chaotic disruption.

- The toddler was like a little tornado, leaving toys all over the living room.
- The new CEO moved through the department like a tornado, restructuring entire teams within her first week on the job.

### 3. to move violently

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to move through a place with great speed and force, often causing damage.

For teachers: to move or sweep through a location with the destructive force or rapid rotation characteristic of a storm.

- The angry crowd tornadoed through the streets after the game ended.
- The scandal tornadoed through the capital, upending political careers and leaving the administration in a state of total disarray.

## Examples

- The tornado destroyed several houses in the small town.
- When the sirens sounded, the family quickly moved to the basement to stay safe from the approaching tornado.
- Meteorologists tracked the tornado as it tore across the plains, noting that its internal wind speeds were high enough to lift heavy vehicles and strip the bark from trees.

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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.