Phrase guide

take by storm

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌteɪk baɪ ˈstɔːm/
  • US: /ˌteɪk baɪ ˈstɔːɹm/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: government, military, politics, war

Examples

  • The soldiers took the castle by storm.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To seize, overpower, or captivate in a sudden and forceful manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To rapidly gain great popularity in (a place).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Compare English blitzkrieg.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: valloittaa äkkirynnäköllä — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Finnish: valloittaa rynnäköllä — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • French: prendre d'assaut — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Galician: conquistar — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • German: im Sturm erobern — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Italian: prendere d'assalto — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Latin: expugnō — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Polish: zdobywać szturmem — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Polish: zdobyć szturmem — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Russian: брать шту́рмом (bratʹ štúrmom) — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Russian: взять шту́рмом (vzjatʹ štúrmom) — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Swedish: ta med storm — To capture by means of a sudden, overwhelming attack
  • Finnish: valloittaa — To rapidly gain popularity in a place
  • French: prendre d'assaut — To rapidly gain popularity in a place
  • Galician: conquistar — To rapidly gain popularity in a place
  • German: im Sturm erobern — To rapidly gain popularity in a place
  • Polish: zawojowywać — To rapidly gain popularity in a place
  • Polish: zawojować — To rapidly gain popularity in a place
  • Spanish: arrasar — To rapidly gain popularity in a place
  • Swedish: ta med storm — To rapidly gain popularity in a place