thunderclap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1literary, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “thunderclap” mean?
A single, sharp, explosive sound of thunder.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A single, sharp, explosive sound of thunder.
A sudden, violent, and surprising event or piece of news; a sudden loud noise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Identical connotations of suddenness, force, and sometimes alarm.
Frequency
Slightly more common in literary contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “thunderclap” in a Sentence
[verb] + thunderclap: hear, follow, sound like, be interrupted byVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thunderclap” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- A thunderclap announcement stunned the nation.
- The thunderclap noise made us jump.
American English
- He delivered thunderclap news at the press conference.
- The report had a thunderclap effect on the industry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The CEO's resignation came like a thunderclap to the markets.'
Academic
Rare in technical writing. Possible in historical narratives describing sudden events.
Everyday
Used descriptively for weather and metaphorically for shocking news.
Technical
Used in meteorology to describe a discrete acoustic event associated with a lightning discharge.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thunderclap”
- Using it as a verb (to thunderclap is non-standard). Confusing with 'thunderstorm' (which is a longer event).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'thunderclap' is almost exclusively a noun. The verb form is non-standard. Use 'thunder' as a verb instead.
'Thunder' is the general term for the sound following lightning. 'Thunderclap' specifies a single, sharp, and often loud instance of that sound.
It is possible but unusual. Its core associations are suddenness and force, which often carry a negative or alarming connotation (e.g., shocking news). A positive surprise might be described less harshly.
It is more literary or journalistic. In everyday informal speech, people might say 'bolt from the blue' or 'bombshell' for similar metaphorical meanings.
A single, sharp, explosive sound of thunder.
Thunderclap: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθʌndəklap/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθʌndərklæp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a thunderclap (out of a clear blue sky)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
THUNDER + CLAP. Imagine the sound of thunder CLAPPING its hands loudly once.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUDDEN REVELATIONS/EVENTS ARE THUNDERCLAPS (e.g., news hit me like a thunderclap).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core meaning of 'thunderclap'?