storm

1.nounA2

Definition

a time when the weather turns violent, with extremely strong winds and usually heavy rain, thunder, lightning, snow, or hail

Example

A violent storm hit the coast and knocked down several trees near the harbor.

storm hit [area] — common pattern for weather events

The weather report warned a storm was coming, so Liang put sandbags by the door.

Common collocations

heavy storm
violent storm
tropical storm
storm clouds
storm warning
storm damage
storm hits
storm approaches
storm passes

Synonyms

tempest
more formal and literary; often used in poetry or historical writing
gale
specifically a very strong wind, not necessarily with rain or snow
hurricane
a tropical storm with winds over 74 mph, specific to Atlantic and Eastern Pacific regions
typhoon
same as hurricane but in the Northwest Pacific region

Antonyms

calm
the absence of wind or disturbance in the weather
drought
a long period without rain, opposite of a storm that brings heavy rain

Usage Note

The word storm can also appear as a suffix (-storm) to name specific types of violent weather, such as thunderstorm, snowstorm, sandstorm, hailstorm, or duststorm.

Common Mistakes

There will be a storm this afternoon' (when only light rain is expected).

There will be heavy rain this afternoon.

Storm implies strong winds and violent weather, not just any rain.

2.nounB2

Definition

a situation where many people express strong anger or disagreement about something that has been said or done

Example

The mayor's plan to close the library caused a storm of protest from local residents.

a storm of protest

A political storm erupted after the senator's old comments were shared online.

political storm

Common collocations

storm of protest
storm of criticism
political storm
stir up a storm
cause a storm
create a storm
storm breaks out

Synonyms

uproar
similar intensity but focuses on noise and confusion rather than directed anger
outcry
a strong expression of public disapproval, less metaphorical
backlash
a negative reaction, often delayed, against a change or policy
controversy
a public disagreement that may be less emotional and more focused on debate

Antonyms

calm
a lack of strong reaction or public discussion
acceptance
when people agree with or tolerate a decision without protest

Usage Note

Often followed by 'of' + an abstract noun expressing the type of reaction (e.g., protest, criticism, outrage, controversy). Subject of the reaction is almost always a group or the public, not a single person.

Common Mistakes

His mother caused a storm when she saw his messy room.

His mother caused an angry scene when she saw his messy room.

The 'storm' sense requires a group or public reaction, not a single person's anger.

3.nounB2

Definition

a situation in which someone or something becomes extremely popular or successful very quickly, used most often in the phrase 'take by storm'

Example

The young dancer took the competition by storm with her amazing performance.

take [something] by storm

Indra's new food delivery app took the city by storm in just two months.

Common collocations

take [something] by storm

Synonyms

sensation
a person or thing that causes great public excitement, often used as a noun rather than in a fixed phrase
hit
informal; a successful song, show, or product that is widely liked

Usage Note

Rarely used outside the fixed expression 'take (someone/something) by storm'. The 'by storm' part is non-negotiable — you cannot say 'take a storm' or 'a storm of success' in this sense. The guide word from some sources labels this 'ATTACK', but the actual meaning is about achieving great popularity, not attacking.

Common Mistakes

The singer took the storm with her new song.

The singer took the music world by storm with her new song.

The phrase requires 'by storm' after the thing that is being conquered or won over.

Idioms

any port in a storm

idiom

When you are in serious trouble, you accept any help that is available, even if it is not ideal.

After losing his job, Tom took any port in a storm and moved in with his cousin.

When her car broke down at night, any port in a storm meant accepting a ride from a stranger.

the calm before the storm

idiom

A quiet period that happens just before a time of great activity, trouble, or conflict.

The office was quiet, but everyone knew it was the calm before the storm.

Before the big exam, the library felt like the calm before the storm.

cook, dance, etc. up a storm

idiom

To do something, especially cooking, with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

Maya was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm for the family reunion.

For the party, Diego danced up a storm until midnight.

a storm in a teacup

idiom

A lot of anger or worry about something that is not important.

Their argument over the color of the curtains was a storm in a teacup.

The media fuss about the minor mistake was just a storm in a teacup.

take something/somebody by storm

idiom

To become very successful very quickly in a particular place or among a particular group of people.

The new singer took the music scene by storm with her debut album.

The innovative app took the tech world by storm within weeks.

1.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to attack and enter a place suddenly and in large numbers, especially in order to take control of it

Example

Soldiers stormed the rebel base at dawn and freed the captured journalists.

storm + [place] — military attack

Fans stormed the stage when the singer invited everyone to dance with her.

Common collocations

storm the building
storm the stage
storm the court
storm the gates
storm the embassy

Synonyms

charge
to rush forward quickly, often in a military context, but without the same emphasis on entering a place
raid
a sudden surprise attack, often to steal or capture, more focused on the element of surprise
assault
formal; a strong military attack on a target, may be more organized and less sudden

Antonyms

retreat
to move away from a place or enemy instead of attacking

Grammar Patterns

storm + [place/building]

Usage Note

The subject is usually a group acting with a common purpose (soldiers, police, fans, protesters). The object is typically a building, structure, or stage — a physical place that can be entered. Non-military uses (fans storming a stage) are common in everyday contexts.

Common Mistakes

The cat stormed the kitchen when it smelled fish.

The cat rushed into the kitchen when it smelled fish.

Storming implies purposeful group action, not a single animal's movement.

2.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to go or come into a place noisily and with visible anger, or to say something in a furious voice

Example

When her brother broke her tablet, Shanti stormed out of the room in tears.

storm out of [place]

The coach stormed onto the field to argue with the referee about the final call.

storm onto [place]

Common collocations

storm out
storm off
storm into
storm onto
storm through
storm away

Synonyms

stomp
to walk with heavy steps, showing anger but often less dramatic than storming
march
to walk in a determined way; can show anger but is less specific
fume
to show anger, but not necessarily involving movement from one place to another
rage
to express anger very strongly, often used of a person's emotional state rather than movement

Grammar Patterns

storm + adverb/preposition (out/off/into/onto)

Usage Note

Always followed by a preposition or adverb showing direction of movement (out, off, into, onto, through). The action must be visible and energetic — quietly walking away in anger is not 'storming'. Can also be used as a verb of speech when the speaker is angry: "I've had enough!" she stormed.

Common Mistakes

He stormed from the room quietly.

He stormed out of the room and slammed the door.

Storming implies noisy, energetic movement, not quiet or restrained anger.

3.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

of wind, rain, snow, or hail, to blow or fall with great force and violence

Example

It stormed all night, and by morning the roads were covered with thick snow.

impersonal: it storms

Hail stormed down on the village, damaging cars and breaking windows.

storm down — describing precipitation falling with force

Common collocations

storm down
storm against
storm through

Synonyms

blast
to blow with sudden force, usually of wind, not used with rain or snow
lash
to hit with force, often used of rain or wind hitting a surface ('rain lashed the windows')

Grammar Patterns

it storms

storm + preposition (down/against/through)

Usage Note

Can be used impersonally ('it stormed') to describe general violent weather, or with a specific subject like rain, hail, or wind followed by a preposition showing direction. This sense is less common in everyday speech than the noun sense — most speakers prefer 'there was a storm' or 'the wind was very strong'.

Common Mistakes

It stormed yesterday for five minutes with light rain.

A storm passed through yesterday with strong winds and heavy rain.

The verb 'storm' implies sustained violent weather, not a brief light shower.

Word family

stormy
adjectiveB1
stormily
adverbB2
storming
adjectiveB2
stormed
adjectiveB2
thunderstorm
nounA2
snowstorm
nounB1
sandstorm
nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Storm is the broadest, most common word for any period of violent weather with strong winds and often rain, snow, or thunder. A gale is more specific — a very strong wind (about 34–47 knots) but not necessarily bringing rain or snow; you might say 'a gale was blowing' but not 'a gale was approaching with lightning.' Tempest is a more literary and formal word for a violent storm, often used in poetry or historical fiction ('Shakespeare's The Tempest') rather than daily conversation. Hurricane and typhoon are both tropical cyclones — the same weather phenomenon with different regional names: hurricane in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, typhoon in the Northwest Pacific. For example, 'Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005' but 'Typhoon Hagibis struck Japan in 2019.' A storm can last hours or days; a hurricane or typhoon is a specific, organized system that meteorologists track by name.

tempestgale ↗hurricane ↗typhoon ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

calm before the storm
weather the storm
take by storm
a storm in a teacup

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishModern English

Storm comes from Old English storm or sturm, which traces back to the Proto-Germanic word *sturmaz. This Germanic root is related to the Proto-Indo-European *(s)twer-, meaning 'to turn, swirl, or rotate' — the same ancient root that gave us words like stir, turn, and turbine. The swirling motion of wind and water is built right into the word's earliest form. Storm entered English before the 12th century and has stayed remarkably stable in both form and meaning. The verb sense 'to attack a place by force' developed in the 1500s, while the figurative use meaning 'a strong public reaction' emerged from the idea that angry voices feel as powerful and uncontrollable as a weather storm.

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storm

storm — noun

1. a time when the weather turns violent, with extremely strong winds and usually h

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a situation where many people express strong anger or disagreement about somethi

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. a situation in which someone or something becomes extremely popular or successfu

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

any port in a storm

the calm before the storm

cook, dance, etc. up a storm

a storm in a teacup

take something/somebody by storm

storm — verb

1. to attack and enter a place suddenly and in large numbers, especially in order t

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to go or come into a place noisily and with visible anger, or to say something i

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. of wind, rain, snow, or hail, to blow or fall with great force and violence

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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