Stormy

/ˈstɔːrmi/

adjectiveBeginner📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Characterized by storms or strong winds and heavy rain; turbulent or characterized by conflict or strong emotions.

/ˈstɔːrmi/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

Characterized by storms or severe weather.

The ship weathered the stormy seas.

💡 Simply: It's like when the sky is full of angry clouds and the wind is howling, or when things are really chaotic and difficult. Like when your family is arguing a lot – that's a stormy situation!

👶 For kids: When the weather is windy and rainy, that's a stormy day! It can also mean when people are angry or fighting.

More Examples

2

They had a stormy marriage filled with arguments.

3

The weather forecast predicts a stormy weekend.

How It's Used

Weather

"A stormy night brought heavy rain and strong winds."

Figurative

"Their relationship became stormy after the disagreement."

2

Characterized by conflict, anger, or strong negative emotions; tempestuous.

/ˈstɔːrmi/

adjectivenegativeBeginner
General

Characterized by violent emotions or conflict.

The couple's relationship was stormy, with constant disagreements.

💡 Simply: When something is stormy in the emotional sense, it's like a big argument or a time when everyone is feeling really upset. Like when two friends are always fighting.

👶 For kids: When things are not calm and peaceful but instead loud and angry.

More Examples

2

The meeting turned stormy when the manager announced layoffs.

3

After their fight, they had a stormy silence.

How It's Used

Relationships

"Their relationship was stormy, with frequent arguments."

Politics

"The political climate was stormy after the election."

Tip:Imagine a physical storm and transfer its characteristics to feelings or events.

Idioms & expressions

weather the storm

To successfully deal with a difficult situation or period.

"Despite the economic downturn, the company managed to weather the storm."

From Old English *sturm*, meaning 'storm', + -y (suffix). The suffix transforms the noun into an adjective.

Used in literature and everyday speech since at least the 16th century to describe both literal weather and emotional states.

Memory tip

Think of a *storm* (noun), and add '-y' to describe something *like* a storm.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"sturm (storm) + -y (suffix to form an adjective)"

stormy weatherstormy seasstormy relationshipstormy meeting

Common misspellings

stormystomystormie

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written