tempest, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, formal, poetic
Quick answer
What does “tempest, the” mean?
A violent, windy storm, especially at sea.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A violent, windy storm, especially at sea.
A violent commotion, tumult, or uproar, often of an emotional, social, or political nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Equally literary/formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes drama, intensity, and classical/literary allusion (e.g., Shakespeare's 'The Tempest').
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday speech in both regions. Slightly higher frequency in UK due to the cultural prominence of the Shakespeare play.
Grammar
How to Use “tempest, the” in a Sentence
[tempest] of [noun] (e.g., a tempest of protest)[verb] a tempest (e.g., brew, cause, unleash)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tempest, the” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It is rarely used as a verb. The archaic form 'tempested' might be found in poetry.
American English
- As in British English, the verb form is obsolete.
adverb
British English
- The related adverb is 'tempestuously', as in 'The wind blew tempestuously.'
American English
- He argued tempestuously against the proposal.
adjective
British English
- The related adjective is 'tempestuous', as in 'a tempestuous relationship'.
- The sea grew dark and tempestuous.
American English
- She had a famously tempestuous partnership with the director.
- The debate was long and tempestuous.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The CEO's resignation created a tempest in the boardroom.'
Academic
Literary/historical analysis: 'The play explores the tempest of colonial politics.'
Everyday
Rare. Mostly in the idiom or for dramatic effect: 'Don't make a tempest in a teapot over a spilled drink.'
Technical
Meteorology: Not a technical term; 'severe storm' or specific classifications (e.g., cyclone) are used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tempest, the”
- Using it as a common synonym for 'storm' in everyday weather reports (too literary).
- Misspelling as 'tempestous' (correct adjective is 'tempestuous').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its literal sense, yes, but it is almost exclusively literary. In modern usage, its metaphorical meaning (a violent disturbance) is more common.
'Tempest' is a noun meaning a violent storm or upheaval. 'Tempestuous' is an adjective describing something characterized by strong and turbulent emotions or weather.
It is a variant of the older phrase 'storm in a teacup', which is believed to be of Roman origin. It highlights the absurdity of exaggerating a minor problem.
Not in modern English. The verb 'to tempest' is obsolete. The related verb is 'to storm'.
A violent, windy storm, especially at sea.
Tempest, the is usually literary, formal, poetic in register.
Tempest, the: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtem.pɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtem.pɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tempest in a teapot (US) / tempest in a teacup (UK): a great fuss over a trivial matter.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TEMPEST as a TEMPorary but violent STorm.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL/SOCIAL UPHEAVAL IS A STORM (e.g., 'a tempest of emotions', 'a political tempest').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'tempest' LEAST likely to be used naturally?