twister

noun

twist·​er ˈtwi-stər How to pronounce twister (audio)
1
: one that twists
especially : a ball with a forward and spinning motion
2
: a tornado, waterspout, or dust devil in which the rotatory ascending movement of a column of air is especially apparent

Examples of twister in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lindstrom said the event was unusual because a clear sky preceded the twister, which developed just after sundown. Evan Bush, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024 By today’s rating standards, this Hollywood classic is downright tame, but between the twister, the peril, and the witch’s general menacing, murderous intentions, some younger or more sensitive kids could be frightened. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024 An enormous cyclone was hurling stormy weather at the West Coast on Jan. 30, and the massive white twister was seen in satellite images from space. Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024 The twister formed over land and hit ground around 6 p.m. just west of Las Olas Boulevard and the Intracoastal Waterway, according to the city’s X account, formerly Twitter. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024 The threatening squall line that swept across the state on Tuesday and brought tornadoes to North Florida did not result in any twisters in South Florida, said the National Weather Service, but there’s a nasty arctic blast following it. South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 Last November, meteorologists with the National Weather Service said this year’s El Niño conditions — which should last until spring — put the Central Florida region at risk for dangerous weather comparable to late February 1998 when an overnight rampage of twisters killed 42 people in the region. Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024 The boyfriend tried to grab the sleeping child but was pulled into the twister himself, per the report. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 13 Dec. 2023 Multiple long-track tornadoes were reported in northwest Tennessee Saturday afternoon, as the twister threat in the region continues into the evening. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twister.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twister was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near twister

Cite this Entry

“Twister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twister. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

twister

noun
twist·​er ˈtwis-tər How to pronounce twister (audio)
1
: one that twists
2

More from Merriam-Webster on twister

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