# tsunami

/suˈnɑmi/ (US) · /tsuːnˈɑːmi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. giant sea wave

noun · CEFR B2

a huge, powerful wave caused by an earthquake or volcano under the ocean that can cause great damage when it hits land.

For teachers: a series of massive water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean, due to seismic activity.

- The coastal town installed a new siren to warn residents of a possible tsunami after the earthquake.
- Geologists monitored the undersea fault line closely, fearing that a significant shift could trigger a tsunami capable of reaching distant island chains within hours.

### 2. an overwhelming surge

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a very large amount of something that arrives suddenly and is difficult to control.

For teachers: a figurative surge or overwhelming arrival of something, often used to describe social, economic, or emotional phenomena.

- The company was not prepared for the tsunami of complaints following the price increase.
- The sudden policy shift unleashed a tsunami of public criticism that the administration struggled to contain during the subsequent press conference.

## Examples

- The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that reached the coast in minutes.
- Coastal towns now use early warning systems to detect underwater tremors and evacuate residents before a tsunami arrives.
- Geological evidence suggests that the prehistoric tsunami was powerful enough to carry massive boulders several miles inland, permanently altering the topography of the low-lying coastal plain.

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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.