sonic boom

noun

: a sound resembling an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground

called also sonic bang

Examples of sonic boom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web More big stories Military rejects demand to mitigate effects of sonic booms and rocket launches off California coast. Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024 Loud sonic booms from Israeli jets circling over central Beirut were heard ahead of Nasrallah’s speech which is held to commemorate the group’s top commander, Fuad Shukr, who was assassinated one week ago. Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 6 Aug. 2024 With a remit to test the frontiers of flight well beyond the sonic boom, the X-15 series delivered in spades. Julie Boatman, Robb Report, 10 July 2024 The sonic boom created by flying above the speed of sound restricts these aircraft in many places from flight over land. Julie Boatman, Robb Report, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for sonic boom 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sonic boom.' 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

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sonic boom was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near sonic boom

Cite this Entry

“Sonic boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic%20boom. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

sonic boom

noun
: a sound like that of an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground

More from Merriam-Webster on sonic boom

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