thunder

/ˈθʌndə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈθʌndər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈthən-dər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈθʌn.dər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈθʌn.dɚ/ (ame, ipa)

1.名詞A2

釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞

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

文法句型

clap/roll/crash of thunder

thunder + verb

用法筆記

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'.

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞B2

釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞

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

文法句型

the thunder of + noun

noun + thunder

用法筆記

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').

常見錯誤

❌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.

1.動詞不及物A2

釋義

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'.

例句

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.

文法句型

it thunders

it is thundering

it thundered

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.動詞不及物B2

釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞

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

文法句型

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

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.動詞及物 / 不及物B2

釋義

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

例句

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'

同義詞

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

反義詞

whisper
to speak very softly, the opposite of shouting

文法句型

thunder + at + person

thunder + direct speech

thunder + that-clause

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.

thunder

thunder — noun

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

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

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

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

thunder — verb

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

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

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

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

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

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤