turbulence

noun

tur·​bu·​lence ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s How to pronounce turbulence (audio)
Synonyms of turbulence
: 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.
That means the rest of the aircraft must be light enough to lift a power source that never gets lighter, yet strong enough to endure vibration, turbulence, hard landings, and years of fatigue. — IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2026 Traders will be paying close attention to what’s ahead on the artificial intelligence front with both companies as the AI trade undergoes turbulence. — Ananya Chetia,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026 The force of the helicopter blades pummeled the water, whipping up spray and turbulence. — Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 Despite the potential for turbulence caused by the midterms, the financial advisers surveyed recommend staying the course. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing turbulence

Browse Nearby Words

turbulator
turbulence
turbulency
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turbulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turbulence. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on turbulence

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for turbulence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about turbulence

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