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
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.
The last Falcon Heavy launch April 29 from Florida caused two sonic booms in Brevard County near the Atlantic Coast as the rocket's two side boosters returned to Earth faster than the speed of sound and landed less than eight minutes later. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 SpaceX is set to launch eight satellites responsible for emergency SOS alerts on Saturday night and attempt a land recovery of the rocket’s booster that could bring a sonic boom to Central Florida. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026 The album is a sonic boom of maximalist production and sprawling lyricism, with topics ranging from endless joyrides to early transition struggles. — Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026 His runs in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert produced sonic booms that shook the nearby town of Gerlach. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sonic boom

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for sonic boom

See All Rhymes for sonic boom

Browse Nearby Words

sonic barrier
sonic boom
sonic depth finder
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sonic boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic%20boom. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sonic boom

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