thunder
B1Neutral (used across formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
the loud, rumbling or crashing noise that follows a lightning flash during a storm
any loud, deep, rumbling sound resembling this; also used metaphorically for loud, angry, or vehement speech or protest
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers primarily to the acoustic phenomenon. As a verb, it implies moving or speaking with great force and noise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Minor potential differences in idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'steal someone's thunder' is equally common).
Connotations
Identical connotations of power, loudness, and sometimes divine or ominous force.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It thundered all night.The train thundered past the station.He thundered at the committee for their inaction.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “steal someone's thunder”
- “blood and thunder”
- “by thunder!”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used literally; metaphorical use possible (e.g., 'The CEO thundered against the new regulations').
Academic
Used in meteorology and literary studies; often metaphorical in humanities.
Everyday
Common for describing weather and loud noises.
Technical
Precise term in meteorology for the sound caused by lightning.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The artillery thundered in the distance.
- It's absolutely thundering down out there!
- The speaker thundered on about justice.
American English
- The trucks thundered down the interstate.
- It thundered for hours last night.
- The coach thundered at the team at halftime.
adverb
British English
- The horse ran thunderously fast. (Note: 'thunderously' is the adverb, not a form of 'thunder')
American English
- He spoke thunderously loud. (Note: 'thunderously' is the adverb, not a form of 'thunder')
adjective
British English
- He gave a thunderous applause. (Note: 'thunderous' is the adjective, not 'thunder')
American English
- The crowd's reaction was thunderous. (Note: 'thunderous' is the adjective, not 'thunder')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can hear thunder.
- The thunder is very loud.
- Look! Lightning, then thunder.
- We saw lightning and a few seconds later heard the thunder.
- A loud clap of thunder made the windows shake.
- The thunder rumbled in the mountains.
- The distant thunder promised a storm was approaching the valley.
- His voice thundered across the hall, demanding silence.
- You could hear the thunder of the waterfall long before you saw it.
- The chairman thundered against the proposal, his voice echoing his profound disapproval.
- The philosophical argument landed with the thunder of inevitability, silencing the opposition.
- The thunder of applause that followed the performance was utterly deafening.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
THunder is the sound that makes you THink, "What was THAT?"
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS A STORM / LOUD SOUNDS ARE THUNDER / POWER IS THUNDER
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'гром' (the sound) and 'молния' (the lightning). 'Гроза' is the storm event itself.
- The verb 'греметь' is a close equivalent for the verb 'to thunder'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'thunder' to mean lightning (e.g., 'A thunder hit the tree').
- Incorrect pluralisation ('thunders' is very rare).
- Confusing 'thunder' (noun/verb) with 'thunderous' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'to steal someone's thunder' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable when referring to the weather phenomenon (e.g., 'I heard thunder'). It can be countable in literary contexts referring to specific instances (e.g., 'a peal of thunder').
Yes. As a verb, it means to produce thunder (impersonal: 'It thundered'), or to move/speak with a loud, deep, forceful sound (e.g., 'The tanks thundered past', 'He thundered his objections').
Lightning is the visible electrical discharge or flash. Thunder is the sound caused by the rapid expansion of air heated by the lightning.
The direct adjective is 'thunderous' (meaning very loud, like thunder). The word 'thunder' itself is not used as an attributive adjective.
Collections
Part of a collection
Weather
A2 · 45 words · Describing the weather, climate and seasons.
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