storm

A period of very bad weather with strong winds, often with heavy rain, thunder, or snow.

• A storm is coming.
• The storm damaged several houses.
• We stayed inside during the storms.

Similar words: tempest

Common phrases: heavy storm, violent storm, winter storm

A period of strong anger, argument, or trouble among people.

• The decision caused a political storm.
• Her remarks started a storm of protest.
• The minister resigned after the storm over his expenses.

How to use it: a storm over something (A storm over the new law divided the country.)

Similar words: uproar, commotion, turmoil

Common phrases: political storm, storm of protest, cause a storm

A large number of things falling or flying through the air together with great force.

• A storm of arrows filled the sky.
• They sheltered behind a wall during the storm of bullets.
• The fighter delivered a storm of blows.

How to use it: a storm of something (The soldiers faced a storm of stones.)

Similar words: barrage, hail

Common phrases: storm of bullets, storm of arrows, storm of blows

To move somewhere quickly and noisily because you are angry.

• He stormed out.
• She stormed upstairs after the argument.
• My brother stormed into the room and demanded an explanation.

How to use it: storm out of somewhere (He stormed out of the kitchen.); storm into somewhere (She stormed into my office.)

Common phrases: storm out, storm off, storm into something

To attack a place violently and enter it, usually to take control.

• Soldiers stormed the castle.
• Police stormed the building before dawn.
• The commander ordered his troops to storm the enemy base.

Similar words: attack, assault

Common phrases: storm a building, storm the gates, storm a fortress

When it does this, there are strong winds, often with heavy rain, thunder, or snow.

• It is storming outside.
• It stormed throughout the night.
• We will stay home if it starts to storm.

How to use it: it storms (It storms frequently in summer.)

Common phrases: storm all night, start to storm

To work extremely hard and fast to produce enough after falling behind.

• The factory workers had to storm to meet their quota.
• They stormed at month's end to catch up on production.
• Managers expected workers to storm whenever output fell behind.

Common phrases: storm for quotas, storm before deadlines