thunder

1.nounA2

Definition

the loud, explosive rumbling or crashing sound that travels through the sky during a storm, caused by lightning rapidly heating the air around it.

Example

Christopher hid under the bed during the storm, terrified by the loud thunder.

collocation: loud thunder

A flash of lightning lit up the sky, and three seconds later a crash of thunder shook the house.

collocation: crash of thunder

Common collocations

loud thunder
clap of thunder
crash of thunder
roll of thunder
rumble of thunder
thunder booms
thunder echoes
thunder shakes

Synonyms

thunderclap
a single, sudden loud thunder sound, distinct from continuous rumbling
crash
more general — any loud breaking or hitting sound, not specific to storms
boom
a deep, resonant sound that can also describe explosions or cannon fire
rumble
a low, continuous rolling sound, often quieter and longer in duration

Grammar Patterns

clap/roll/crash of thunder

thunder + verb

Usage Note

Thunder is uncountable, so you cannot say 'a thunder'. Instead use 'a clap of thunder', 'a crash of thunder', 'a roll of thunder', or 'a rumble of thunder'.

Common Mistakes

I heard a loud thunder last night.

I heard a loud clap of thunder last night.

thunder is uncountable; use a measure phrase like 'clap of' or 'roll of'.

The thunder and lightning scared me.' (correct but vague)

The thunder scared me more than the lightning.

Chinese learners often confuse which is the sound and which is the flash.

2.nounB2

Definition

a deep, continuous rumbling noise that sounds like thunder, produced by something large, powerful, or fast moving.

Example

From the hilltop, Yael could hear the thunder of the waterfall half a mile away.

collocation: thunder of + noun (source of sound)

Ezra felt the thunder of the train through the floor as it roared past the station.

Common collocations

thunder of applause
thunder of hooves
thunder of traffic
thunder of machinery
distant thunder
thunder of the falls

Synonyms

rumble
softer and lower in pitch, often more continuous
roar
louder and more aggressive, can apply to crowds or engines
boom
a single deep explosive sound rather than continuous noise
din
a loud, unpleasant, and confusing mixture of sounds, not necessarily deep

Grammar Patterns

the thunder of + noun

noun + thunder

Usage Note

This sense is followed by 'of' + the source of the sound (e.g., 'the thunder of traffic'). It is typically used with a definite article ('the thunder of …') or an adjective ('a distant thunder').

Common Mistakes

The thunder of a baby crying

The roar of a baby crying

this sense is only for deep, low-pitched rumbling noises, not for high-pitched sounds.

Idioms

a face like thunder

idiom

an expression that shows someone is extremely angry.

When Felix saw the broken window, he had a face like thunder and refused to speak to anyone.

The teacher walked into the classroom with a face like thunder after hearing the noise from the hall.

steal somebody's thunder

idiom

to take attention or praise away from someone by doing or saying what they had planned to do or say, often before they get the chance.

Roya had prepared a big announcement, but her colleague stole her thunder by sharing the news first.

My sister wore the same dress to the party and stole my thunder completely.

thunder and lightning

idiom

a storm with thunder and lightning; also used figuratively to describe a very angry, noisy reaction.

There was thunder and lightning all night, and the power went out at around midnight.

When her parents found out about the missing money, there was thunder and lightning in the house for hours.

somebody’s face is like thunder | somebody has a face like thunder

idiom

Someone's expression shows they are extremely angry.

When Maya saw the broken vase, her face was like thunder.

Dad had a face like thunder after he found the dent in his car.

steal somebody’s thunder

idiom

To take attention or praise away from someone by doing or saying what they planned.

Brian announced his promotion at the party, stealing Sara's thunder.

Did Diego steal your thunder by revealing the surprise early?

1.verbintransitiveA2

Definition

to produce the loud rumbling or crashing sound known as thunder during a storm — used only with 'it' as the subject, as in 'it is thundering'.

Example

It thundered all night, and poor Ari could not fall asleep until morning.

impersonal: 'it thundered' + time duration

Every time it starts to thunder, the neighbour's dog hides under the sofa and shakes.

Grammar Patterns

it thunders

it is thundering

it thundered

Usage Note

This verb is always used impersonally with 'it' as the subject. 'It thunders' means thunder is happening. You cannot say 'The sky thunders' or 'The storm thunders' when referring to this weather sense — that would shift to the metaphorical sense of making a loud noise.

Common Mistakes

The sky thundered loudly.

It thundered loudly.

the weather sense of 'thunder' must use 'it' as the subject.

It thunders every summer in Taiwan.

It thunders almost every afternoon in Taiwan during the summer.

grammatically fine, but the corrected version sounds more natural with context.

2.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to move or travel somewhere with a very loud, heavy, rumbling sound, like the noise made by something large and powerful.

Example

Faisal heard the elephants thunder across the plain at sunset.

intransitive + direction: 'thunder across [place]'

A convoy of heavy military trucks thundered down the narrow village road.

Common collocations

thunder across
thunder down
thunder past
thunder through
thunder along

Synonyms

roar
used similarly for movement with loud noise, but can also apply to fire or wind
rumble
softer, slower movement noise, often continuous rather than sudden
boom
a single loud sound rather than continuous movement noise

Grammar Patterns

thunder + adverb/preposition (across, down, past, through)

Usage Note

This sense always needs an adverbial phrase showing direction or destination ('across the field', 'past us', 'down the road'). It is not used alone — 'The truck thundered' without context feels incomplete.

Common Mistakes

The car thundered.' (incomplete)

The car thundered down the highway.

always add a direction or destination.

She thundered through the door angrily.

She stormed through the door angrily.

'thunder' as a movement verb implies a heavy, rumbling noise, not just angry walking.

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2

Definition

to speak or shout in a very loud, angry, and forceful voice, often while making threats or strong criticisms.

Example

The coach thundered at the players from the side of the field after they lost the match.

pattern: 'thunder at + person'

Isabela's father thundered, "Where on earth have you been all night?"

transitive: 'thunder + direct speech'

Common collocations

thunder at someone
thunder an order
thunder a warning

Synonyms

roar
very similar in meaning but slightly less formal; can be used for non-angry shouting too
bellow
deeper and more animal-like; often implies a large person or an authoritative figure
bark
sharper and shorter; implies an order or command given abruptly

Antonyms

whisper
to speak very softly, the opposite of shouting

Grammar Patterns

thunder + at + person

thunder + direct speech

thunder + that-clause

Usage Note

Frequently used in narrative writing and journalism to convey a character's anger or authority. Often appears with speech verbs in novels: 'he thundered', 'she thundered' as a dialogue tag.

Common Mistakes

She thundered at me for being late.

She thundered at me for arriving late.

the object of 'thunder at' is a person; the reason follows with 'for' + gerund.

I thundered that I was tired.

I said loudly that I was tired.

'thunder' implies anger and authority, not just being loud.

Word family

thunderous
adjectiveB2
thunderstorm
nounA2
thunderbolt
nounB1
thunderclap
nounC1
thundering
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Thunder is the general uncountable term for the loud sound produced during a storm. A thunderclap is a single, sharp, explosive thunder sound that comes and goes suddenly — more specific and countable ('a thunderclap woke me up'). A crash is a broader term for any loud breaking or hitting noise, not limited to storms ('the crash of a falling tree'). A boom describes a deep, resonant sound that carries a long distance, often from explosions or cannon fire as well as thunder ('the boom of fireworks'). A rumble is a lower, continuous rolling noise that lasts longer and is less sharp than a thunderclap or a crash. For weather contexts, native speakers commonly pair these with 'thunder': you hear a rumble of thunder (distant), a roll of thunder (building up), a crash of thunder (sudden and close), or a clap of thunder (single explosive burst).

thunderclapcrash ↗boom ↗rumble

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

clap of thunder
roll of thunder
crash of thunder
rumble of thunder
peal of thunder
thunder and lightning

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Thunder comes from Old English 'thunor', which itself traces back to the Proto-Germanic '*thunraz' — a word that ancient Germanic peoples used both for the weather phenomenon and for their god of thunder (compare the Norse god Thor, whose name comes from the same root). The word is related to Latin 'tonare' (to thunder) and ultimately to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to resound' or 'to make a loud noise'. The verb form developed naturally from the noun in Old English times.

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thunder

thunder — noun

1. the loud, explosive rumbling or crashing sound that travels through the sky duri

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a deep, continuous rumbling noise that sounds like thunder, produced by somethin

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

a face like thunder

steal somebody's thunder

thunder and lightning

somebody’s face is like thunder | somebody has a face like thunder

steal somebody’s thunder

thunder — verb

1. to produce the loud rumbling or crashing sound known as thunder during a storm —

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to move or travel somewhere with a very loud, heavy, rumbling sound, like the no

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to speak or shout in a very loud, angry, and forceful voice, often while making

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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