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
Pilot in sonic boom crash had 25,000 hours’ experience with Southwest Hefner was a retired Southwest Airlines captain who continued to hold an airline pilot rating and qualified for a top-level medical certificate in October.
—
Ian Duncan, Washington Post, 21 June 2023
Not only could the sonic booms be quieter (thus reducing the negative effects aircraft noise can have on wildlife), but the plane’s carbon footprints could also be drastically reduced.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2024
The first-stage booster is flying for the 10th time and will attempt a recovery landing at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1, meaning a double sonic boom is in store for the Space Coast.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2024
The aircraft’s innovative design, unique shape, and other technologies are expected to help diminish its sonic boom.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2024
The fighter jet caused a loud sonic boom that was heard across the capital region.
—Michael Balsamo and Ashley Thomas, Anchorage Daily News, 5 June 2023
The first-stage booster will attempt a landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1 about eight minutes after liftoff with a potential for a sonic boom to be heard in surrounding counties.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024
While sonic booms are permitted by certain military aircraft, commercial flights above the US have been prohibited from generating them since the Concorde jet’s retirement in 2003.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Jan. 2024
Descending vertically, the side boosters returned to their landing zones just shy of eight minutes into the mission, accompanied by the sharp clap of sonic booms.
—Bradley Iger, Ars Technica, 29 July 2023
Ian Duncan, Washington Post, 21 June 2023
Not only could the sonic booms be quieter (thus reducing the negative effects aircraft noise can have on wildlife), but the plane’s carbon footprints could also be drastically reduced.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2024
The first-stage booster is flying for the 10th time and will attempt a recovery landing at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1, meaning a double sonic boom is in store for the Space Coast.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2024
The aircraft’s innovative design, unique shape, and other technologies are expected to help diminish its sonic boom.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2024
The fighter jet caused a loud sonic boom that was heard across the capital region.
—Michael Balsamo and Ashley Thomas, Anchorage Daily News, 5 June 2023
The first-stage booster will attempt a landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1 about eight minutes after liftoff with a potential for a sonic boom to be heard in surrounding counties.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024
While sonic booms are permitted by certain military aircraft, commercial flights above the US have been prohibited from generating them since the Concorde jet’s retirement in 2003.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Jan. 2024
Descending vertically, the side boosters returned to their landing zones just shy of eight minutes into the mission, accompanied by the sharp clap of sonic booms.
—Bradley Iger, Ars Technica, 29 July 2023
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.
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“Sonic boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonic%20boom. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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