thunderclap

noun

thun·​der·​clap ˈthən-dər-ˌklap How to pronounce thunderclap (audio)
1
: a clap of thunder
2
: something sharp, loud, or sudden like a clap of thunder

Examples of thunderclap in a Sentence

I was awakened by a thunderclap. awakened by the thunderclap of a large branch falling on the roof
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wait for the all-clear: After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities. Bay Area Weather Report, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2025 Tee times had been pushed forward in a bid to finish the PGA Tour’s flagship event before incoming storms arrived, yet play was stopped at 1:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. GMT) after rain and thunderclaps began at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. Jack Bantock, CNN, 16 Mar. 2025 Guest soloist Alexander Wasserman practiced the Grieg concerto, chords like thunderclaps resonating from the grand piano, a gorgeous black-lacquer Shigeru Kawai donated for this performance. Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025 Even the possibility that golf’s turmoil could end with an antitrust whimper, rather than a regulatory thunderclap, shows how much the environment has shifted over the last two years. Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thunderclap

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thunderclap was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thunderclap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thunderclap. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

thunderclap

noun
thun·​der·​clap -ˌklap How to pronounce thunderclap (audio)
1
: a clap of thunder
2
: something sharp, loud, or sudden like a clap of thunder

More from Merriam-Webster on thunderclap

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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