tornado
noun
tor·na·do
tȯr-ˈnā-(ˌ)dō 
plural tornadoes or tornados
1
a
: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land
b
: a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa
2
: a violent windstorm : whirlwind
3
archaic
: a tropical thunderstorm
Examples of tornado in a Sentence
in the path of a tornado
Recent Examples on the Web
No deaths or serious injuries were reported, but the damage reports came as the storm system continued into parts of south Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, which were under tornado watches on Sunday.
—
Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
There’s a tornado watch in neighboring counties in the Daytona Beach area.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2026
Dean Smith is spinning like a tornado.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Severe weather is headed to the deep South, from Texas to Mississippi, with damaging winds, possible tornadoes and some large hail forecast.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tornado
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Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
There’s a tornado watch in neighboring counties in the Daytona Beach area.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2026
Dean Smith is spinning like a tornado.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Severe weather is headed to the deep South, from Texas to Mississippi, with damaging winds, possible tornadoes and some large hail forecast.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tornado
Cite this Entry
“Tornado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tornado. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tornado
noun
tor·na·do
tȯr-ˈnād-ō
plural tornadoes or tornados
: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that moves in a narrow path over the land
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