it was thundering

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'it was thundering' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the sound of a storm or other loud noise. For example, "We could hear the thunder outside as it was thundering."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was thundering during the ceremony and we laugh about that – we say life's carried on that way ever since.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Well, A New Adventure keeps the pace up to a frightening degree, with the story – such as it is – thundering past in a blur.

The Guardian - Film

Always stay in control, especially if it is thundering, because there is a chance he might bolt.

WikiHow

It was thunder.

The New York Times

I thought it was thunder.

The Guardian

The teacher thought it was thunder.

The Guardian

Peter Maher, who lives across the street, thought it was thunder.

The New York Times

I queried with colleagues whether it was thunder, but the sky was blue.

The Guardian

"I thought it was thunder when I first moved in," she said, "but it's not annoying or anything".

The New York Times

It was a game with a style that was as much sunny skies as it was thunder and lightning.

The New York Times - Sports

"It was such a rumble, I thought it was thunder and that we were about to be struck by lightning," she told the Associated Press.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was thundering" to vividly describe the audible presence of a thunderstorm, setting a scene or adding atmosphere to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "it's thundering" when you mean "it was thundering" in past tense narratives. "It's" implies the event is currently happening, while "it was" correctly places the event in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was thundering" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating the presence and sound of thunder in the past. As noted by Ludwig AI, it describes the sound of a storm or other loud noise.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was thundering" is a grammatically correct way to describe the presence of thunder in the past. Ludwig AI validates its usability in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, it effectively sets a scene or provides context in narratives, particularly in news reporting and general descriptions. Remember to avoid confusing it with the present tense form, "it is thundering". Use it to add atmosphere and detail when recounting past events involving thunderstorms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there was thunder

A more general statement about the presence of thunder.

the storm thundered

Attributes the thundering action to the storm itself.

thunder was rumbling

Focuses on the continuous, low-frequency sound of thunder rather than the overall event.

thunder boomed

Emphasizes the deep, resonant quality of the thunder.

thunder was crashing

Highlights the loud, sudden nature of the thunder.

thunder could be heard

Emphasizes the audibility of the thunder.

thunder echoed

Focuses on the reverberating sound of thunder.

a thunderstorm raged

Shifts the focus to the overall storm rather than just the thunder itself.

we heard thunder

Highlights the act of hearing the thunder, adding a personal perspective.

the sky roared

Uses metaphorical language to describe the sound of thunder.

FAQs

How can I use "it was thundering" in a sentence?

You can use "it was thundering" to describe a past weather event. For example, "The ceremony started but "it was thundering" during the ceremony and we laugh about that – we say life's carried on that way ever since."

What's a similar phrase to "it was thundering"?

Similar phrases include "there was thunder", "thunder could be heard", or "the storm raged", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is "it is thundering" the same as "it was thundering"?

No, "it is thundering" describes a present occurrence, while "it was thundering" describes a past occurrence. The tense changes the timing of the event.

What does it mean when someone says "it was thundering"?

It means that at a point in the past, the weather included thunder, typically as part of a thunderstorm. It's used to set the scene or describe an experience from the past.