turbulence

noun

tur·​bu·​lence ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s How to pronounce turbulence (audio)
: 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
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.
And while the cabin may not be the most conventional place to blend or apply contour, landing glam may just be worth the little bit of turbulence. Isabelle Rodney, CNN Money, 20 May 2025 The entrepreneur began his career in the 1960s, a time of great turbulence, like today. Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 May 2025 Subscribe Klarna put its IPO plans on hold last month due to market turbulence caused by President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plans. Ryan Browne, CNBC, 19 May 2025 The team's observations show a clear imbalance in the gas distribution within the star's accretion disk: the eastern side contains roughly twice as much gas as the western side and also shows signs of greater turbulence. Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for turbulence

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of turbulence was in 1595

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turbulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turbulence. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

turbulence

noun
tur·​bu·​lence ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s How to pronounce turbulence (audio)
: the quality or state of being turbulent
especially : irregular atmospheric motion with up and down currents
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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