hailstone

noun

hail·​stone ˈhāl-ˌstōn How to pronounce hailstone (audio)
: a pellet of hail

Examples of hailstone in a Sentence

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.
Eventually, those hailstones get too heavy and fall to earth. — Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 23 Apr. 2026 The friend tossed hailstones playfully into the house. — Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 One hailstone was strong enough to crash through a bedroom window, leaving broken glass inside the home. — Justin Adams, CBS News, 25 June 2026 During those events, more than 600,000 homes were hit with hailstones 2 inches or larger. — Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hailstone

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hailstone was before the 12th century

Rhymes for hailstone

See All Rhymes for hailstone

Browse Nearby Words

hailshot
hailstone
hailstorm
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hailstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hailstone. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hailstone

noun
hail·​stone ˈhā(ə)l-ˌstōn How to pronounce hailstone (audio)
: a small lump of hail

More from Merriam-Webster on hailstone

Nglish: Translation of hailstone for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hailstone

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