sonic boom

noun

: a sound resembling an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground

called also sonic bang

Examples of sonic boom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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SpaceX had warned ahead of launch that parts of Central Florida could experience one or more sonic booms. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026 Reports of sonic booms—a marker of deeper, larger entries—were unusually common among these big events, with nearly four in five higher‑witness fireballs producing sonic booms, per the report. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 During the first three months of 2026, 30 out of 38 events with 50 or more reports involved a sonic boom, the AMS said. Briana Alvarado, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026 There has been an apparent rise in reported fireball incidents accompanied by sonic booms, especially in the United States, according to statistics from the American Meteor Society and recent reports in March 2026. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sonic boom

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sonic boom was in 1952

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Cite this Entry

“Sonic boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic%20boom. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

sonic boom

noun
: a sound like that of an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground

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