Turbulent describes movement that's wild, irregular, and unpredictable. When an airplane flies through turbulent air, it bounces and shakes as it hits pockets of wind moving in different directions. Passengers feel the sudden bumps and drops, which is why pilots ask everyone to buckle their seatbelts during turbulent conditions.

Water can be turbulent too. A calm stream flows smoothly, but turbulent rapids crash and churn over rocks, creating foam and spray. You can't predict exactly where the water will go next because it's moving chaotically in all directions at once.

The word also describes situations full of disorder and conflict. A turbulent time in history might include wars, protests, or major upheavals. A turbulent school year might involve constant changes: new teachers, shifting friend groups, or unexpected events that keep everyone off balance. When something is turbulent, it's the opposite of calm, peaceful, or predictable.

Scientists and engineers study turbulent flow in everything from airplane design to weather forecasting. Understanding turbulence helps them build safer planes and predict storms more accurately. The opposite of turbulent is smooth or laminar, which describes flow that's steady and orderly.