turbulent

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Moving in a rough, uneven and unpredictable way, as air or water does in a storm.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: turbulent water; the sea was turbulent.

   Patterns

   • turbulent water
   • turbulent air

   The plane shook as it passed through turbulent air.

   Small boats should stay out of the turbulent water near the falls.

   The river was turbulent after days of heavy rain.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Full of disorder, conflict or sudden change, as a period in history or in a person's life.

   Grammar: Often before a noun: a turbulent decade.

   Patterns

   • a turbulent period
   • a turbulent time

   The country went through a turbulent decade of strikes and protests.

   She had a turbulent childhood, moving between several homes.

   Markets were turbulent last week as investors reacted to the news.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nounphysicsspecialist

   In physics, describing a flow of liquid or gas that moves in irregular swirling patterns rather than smooth layers.

   Grammar: Contrasts with laminar: turbulent flow versus laminar flow.

   Patterns

   • turbulent flow
   • a turbulent boundary layer

   At high speeds the flow around the car becomes turbulent.

   Smoke rising from a candle turns turbulent at a certain height.

   Engineers study turbulent flow to design quieter pipes.

Word forms

Common combinations

turbulent times

These are turbulent times for the airline industry.

turbulent waters

The ship sailed into turbulent waters.

turbulent flow

Turbulent flow causes extra noise in the pipe.

turbulent relationship

Their turbulent relationship ended after two years.

turbulent history

The city has a turbulent history of invasions.

Synonyms and how they differ

stormy

Stormy is more informal and often describes weather or arguments, while turbulent also covers air currents and long periods of change.

chaotic

Chaotic suggests complete disorder with no control, whereas turbulent suggests strong, restless movement.

rough

Rough is plain and general, but turbulent suggests irregular, swirling motion.

tumultuous

Tumultuous is more formal and often suggests noisy, emotional upheaval.

Opposites

Word family

turbulence noun

irregular, swirling movement or disorder

turbulently adverb

in a rough or restless way

turbid adjective

cloudy or muddy, as water is

turbine noun

a machine turned by flowing liquid or gas

Commonly confused: turbulent or turbid?

Practice

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