turbulence
noun
tur·bu·lence
ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s 
: the quality or state of being turbulent: such as
a
: great commotion or agitation
emotional turbulence
b
: irregular atmospheric motion especially when characterized by up-and-down currents
c
: departure in a fluid from a smooth flow
Examples of turbulence in a Sentence
The plane hit quite a bit of turbulence during our flight.
A period of turbulence preceded the riots.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nowadays, executives are cautious not to hitch their wagon on a single territory, as geographic balance is one of the few real hedges the industry has to weather current turbulences.
—
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
In a teardrop configuration, air flows smoothly around the widest point and rejoins cleanly in its wake, creating minimal turbulence, similar to the cross-section of an airplane wing.
—Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
But that exciting crash sequence — from initial turbulence through to catastrophic Pacific Ocean landing — is where high-stakes action specialist Harlin is most firmly in his sweet spot.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
In a rough economy, pretty much no one is immune to a little turbulence — that can include your small business.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulence
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.
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
In a teardrop configuration, air flows smoothly around the widest point and rejoins cleanly in its wake, creating minimal turbulence, similar to the cross-section of an airplane wing.
—Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
But that exciting crash sequence — from initial turbulence through to catastrophic Pacific Ocean landing — is where high-stakes action specialist Harlin is most firmly in his sweet spot.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
In a rough economy, pretty much no one is immune to a little turbulence — that can include your small business.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulence
Cite this Entry
“Turbulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turbulence. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
turbulence
noun
tur·bu·lence
ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s
: the quality or state of being turbulent
especially
: irregular atmospheric motion with up and down currents
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
