thundering
C1literary, descriptive, informal (when used figuratively for emphasis)
Definition
Meaning
Making a continuous, deep, rumbling sound like thunder; also used figuratively to mean very great, loud, or impressive.
Can describe something that is overwhelmingly powerful, intense, or emphatic, whether in sound, force, or magnitude.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective, it often pre-modifies a noun and carries an intensifying or metaphorical sense beyond the literal sound of thunder.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slight preference in UK English for the adjectival intensifier in colloquial phrases like 'thundering nuisance'.
Connotations
In both varieties, the literal sense is neutral; the figurative intensifier sense is informal and often conveys a mix of awe, annoyance, or emphatic judgment.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK English as an adjectival intensifier in informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[ADJ] + N (a thundering success)[ADV] + ADJ (thunderingly loud)VERB + [ADV] (came thundering down)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a thundering success”
- “the thundering herd (financial/market term)”
- “like thundering hell (vulgar, emphatic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical descriptions of market forces or performance (e.g., 'a thundering quarter for sales').
Academic
Used descriptively in earth sciences (meteorology, geology) and humanities for powerful metaphors.
Everyday
Common for describing very loud noises or as an informal intensifier ('a thundering idiot').
Technical
Primarily in meteorology for describing storm acoustics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The guns were thundering in the distance all night.
- He came thundering down the stairs, waking the entire house.
American English
- The trucks thundered past on the interstate.
- Opinion pieces thundered against the new policy in the papers.
adverb
British English
- The train went thundering through the small station.
- He set off at a thundering pace.
American English
- The cavalry came thundering over the ridge.
- She ran thunderingly fast for someone her size.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sky is dark and I can hear thundering.
- We heard a thundering noise from the construction site next door.
- The thundering applause lasted for several minutes.
- The thundering waterfall drowned out all conversation.
- His thundering denunciation of the plan left the committee in stunned silence.
- The thundering hooves of the stampede sent a tremor through the ground.
- She made a thunderingly obvious mistake in the final calculation, costing them the contract.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of THUNDER + ING: the continuous action or quality of thunder.
Conceptual Metaphor
POWER IS LOUD SOUND / INTENSITY IS A FORCE OF NATURE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque with 'громовой' for figurative uses; it can sound unnatural. For 'thundering applause,' use 'оглушительные аплодисменты.' The participial form '-ing' should not be confused with a Russian gerund.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'thunderous' and 'thundering' interchangeably (they are close, but 'thundering' often implies continuous action). Confusing it with 'thunderstruck' (amazed). Incorrect: 'He was thundering by the news.' Correct: 'He was thunderstruck by the news.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'thundering' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its core meaning relates to the sound of thunder, it is widely used as a powerful intensifier to describe anything very loud, large, forceful, or emphatic, such as 'a thundering success' or 'thundering silence.'
They are very close synonyms. 'Thundering' often carries a stronger sense of continuous action or process ('thundering hooves'), while 'thunderous' is more purely descriptive of a quality ('thunderous applause'). The difference is subtle and they are often interchangeable.
Yes, but its appropriateness depends on context. The literal sense is fine in formal descriptions (e.g., meteorology). The figurative, intensifying sense (e.g., 'a thundering disgrace') is more informal and literary, and may be unsuitable for very neutral, academic, or technical prose.
No. It can function as the present participle/gerund of the verb 'thunder,' as a participial adjective (a thundering noise), or as a true adjective, often with an intensifying role (a thundering great lie). Context determines its grammatical role.