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Glite Dictionary
to storm off

to storm off

11 4.5
Leave a place quickly because you are angry
  • phrasal verb
  • /stɔrm ɔf/
  • Informal
translation icon : irse enfadado
  • Turning away with an angry curse, he stormed off into the darkness.
  • stormed off the set
  • stormed off the stage
  • stormed off to her room

He put the game down, stormed off, went in his room and was like, I'm going to bed.

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Examples

  • Johnny stares at Bobby for a second, fuming, then storms off.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • As Bennington fell backwards, Hirose flung the bullhorn aside and stormed off to his trailer.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • You were gonna storm off and I really wish you would just do that, 'cause we both know how good you are at leaving.

    What Happens Later (2023)

  • Sam storms off, angry that he cared enough to get angry.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Yeah, well, you got so mad and you stormed off.

    Crawl (2019)

  • You can't just storm off like that.

    5 Flights Up (2014)

  • And then Zoe just storms off.

    Fanboys (2009)

  • I haven't seen her since she stormed off yesterday.

    The Slaughterhouse Massacre (2005)

  • She gave me a look of hate and stormed off crying.

  • After the argument, he couldn't take it anymore and stormed off in anger.

Synonyms

to walk out of
vsto storm off
  • Informal
164 3.1

To leave a meeting or event suddenly to show you disagree

is mainly an angry reaction to being offended not formal protest
to walk out
vsto storm off
  • Informal
112 3.4

Leave a place suddenly because you are angry or protesting

is used for leaving in personal anger rather than formal protest
to walk off
vsto storm off
  • Informal
37 3.5

To leave a place suddenly to show you are angry or upset

is a more angry and sudden exit caused by feeling offended
to shove off
vsto storm off
  • Informal
12 7.7

Leave a place quickly, often in a rude way

is a more emotional and angry exit in response to an offense
to leave with a huff
vsto storm off
  • Informal
7.8

To walk out suddenly while showing anger

is a stronger more explosive leaving showing clear anger

Antonyms

to stay
∞ 1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

to exit stage left
  • Informal
1 7.9

Leave a place or conversation quietly to avoid attention

How Angry

to storm off
  • Informal
11 4.5
to stomp
144 2.9
to walk out
  • Informal
112 3.4
to walk away
632 3.5

Surface Forms

storm off infinitive
stormed off past
stormed off past participle
storming off present participle
storms off third person singular

Morphology

storm + off

The meaning 'to leave a place suddenly and angrily' is directly derivable from combining 'storm' (to move or behave angrily/forcefully) with 'off' (away from a place); the verb+off pattern transparently signals angry departure. This compositional pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically recognizable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will typically infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb storm off comes from the picture of someone leaving like a sudden, angry storm and walking off quickly and loudly. That's why it means 'to leave suddenly and angrily'.