thunderbolt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, figurative, occasionally technical (meteorology)
Quick answer
What does “thunderbolt” mean?
A flash of lightning accompanied by a crash of thunder.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A flash of lightning accompanied by a crash of thunder; a single discharge of lightning with the accompanying thunder.
Something very powerful, sudden, and shocking, such as a surprising piece of news, a sudden realization, or a person of great energy or force.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Similar connotations of sudden power, shock, or divine intervention in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK English in historical/literary contexts, but overall frequency is comparable.
Grammar
How to Use “thunderbolt” in a Sentence
[be] + struck + by + a thunderbolt[come] + like + a thunderbolt[hit] + [object] + like + a thunderboltVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thunderbolt” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not standard as a verb.
American English
- Not standard as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not standard as an adverb.
American English
- Not standard as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not standard as an adjective.
American English
- Not standard as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May be used figuratively for a sudden market crash or shocking corporate announcement.
Academic
Used in literature studies, classical mythology, and meteorology.
Everyday
Mostly figurative, e.g., 'The news hit me like a thunderbolt.'
Technical
In meteorology, refers to a single lightning discharge with thunder.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thunderbolt”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thunderbolt”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thunderbolt”
- Using it as a verb (*'It thunderbolted across the sky' – use 'lightning struck' or 'it thundered').
- Confusing with 'thunderstorm' (which is a longer event).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Lightning' is the visible flash. A 'thunderbolt' specifically refers to the single event of a lightning flash accompanied by its thunderclap.
No, it is not standard. Use 'lightning struck' or 'it thundered' for the action.
'A bolt from the blue' is an idiom meaning a complete surprise. 'Thunderbolt' can be used literally or figuratively; in its figurative sense, it overlaps with the idiom.
It is less common in everyday conversation than 'lightning'. It is more frequent in literary, journalistic, or descriptive contexts.
A flash of lightning accompanied by a crash of thunder.
Thunderbolt is usually literary, figurative, occasionally technical (meteorology) in register.
Thunderbolt: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθʌndəbəʊlt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθʌndərboʊlt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a bolt from the blue”
- “like a thunderbolt”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of THUNDER (the loud sound) + BOLT (a fast flash of lightning). Together, they make the complete event.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUDDEN NEWS/EVENT IS A METEOROLOGICAL STRIKE (e.g., 'The revelation struck her like a thunderbolt').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'thunderbolt' used most literally?