wind

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈwind How to pronounce wind (audio)
archaic or poetic
ˈwīnd How to pronounce wind (audio)
often attributive
Synonyms of windnext
1
a
: a natural movement of air of any velocity
especially : the earth's air or the gas surrounding a planet in natural motion horizontally
b
: an artificially produced movement of air
c
: solar wind, stellar wind
2
a
: a force or agency that carries along or influences : tendency, trend
withstood the winds of popular opinion—Felix Frankfurter
b
: a destructive force or influence
3
a
: breath sense 2a
b
: breath sense 4a
c
: the pit of the stomach : solar plexus
4
: gas generated in the stomach or the intestines
pass wind
5
plural winds
a
: musical wind instruments especially as distinguished from strings and percussion : the wind instruments of an orchestra
b
: players of wind instruments
6
a
: slight information especially about something secret : intimation
got wind of the plan
b
: air carrying a scent (as of a hunter or game)
7
: something that is insubstantial: such as
a
: mere talk : idle words
b
: nothing, nothingness
c
: vain self-satisfaction
8
a
: a direction from which the wind may blow : a point of the compass
especially : one of the cardinal points
b
: the direction from which the wind is blowing
9
a
: compressed air or gas
b
archaic : air
windless
ˈwind-ləs How to pronounce wind (audio)
adjective
windlessly adverb

wind

2 of 5

verb (1)

ˈwind How to pronounce wind (audio)
winded; winding; winds

transitive verb

1
: to make short of breath
2
: to detect or follow by scent
3
: to expose to the air or wind : dry by exposing to air
4
: to regulate the wind supply of (an organ pipe)
5
: to rest (an animal, such as a horse) in order to allow the breath to be recovered

intransitive verb

1
: to scent game
2
dialect : to pause for breath

wind

3 of 5

verb (2)

ˈwīnd How to pronounce wind (audio)
wound ˈwau̇nd How to pronounce wind (audio) also winded; winding

transitive verb

1
a
: to turn completely or repeatedly about an object : coil, twine
b
: to encircle or cover with something pliable : bind with loops or layers
c
: to raise to a high level (as of excitement or tension)
—usually used with up
d(1)
: to tighten the spring of
wind a clock
(2)
: crank
(3)
obsolete : to make tighter : tighten, tune
e(1)
: to hoist or haul by means of a rope or chain and a windlass
(2)
: to move (a ship) by hauling on a capstan
2
a
: to traverse on a curving course
the river winds the valley
b
: to cause to move in a curving line or path
c
: to effect by or as if by curving
d(1)
: to cause (something, such as a ship) to change direction : turn
(2)
: to turn (a ship) end for end
e
archaic : to turn the course of
especially : to lead (a person) as one wishes
3
a
: entangle, involve
b
: to introduce sinuously or stealthily : insinuate
c
obsolete : weave

intransitive verb

1
a
: to have a curving course or shape : extend in curves
b
: to proceed as if by winding
2
: to move so as to encircle something
3
: to turn when lying at anchor
4
: bend, warp

wind

4 of 5

noun (2)

ˈwīnd How to pronounce wind (audio)
1
: coil, turn
2
: a particular method of winding
3
: an act of winding : the state of being wound
4
: a mechanism (such as a winch) for winding

wind

5 of 5

verb (3)

ˈwīnd How to pronounce wind (audio) ˈwind How to pronounce wind (audio)
winded ˈwīn-dəd How to pronounce wind (audio)
ˈwin-
 or wound ˈwau̇nd How to pronounce wind (audio) ; winding

transitive verb

1
: to cause (something, such as a horn) to sound by blowing : blow
2
: to sound (a call or note) on a horn
wound a rousing call—R. L. Stevenson

intransitive verb

: to produce a sound on a horn
Phrases
before the wind
: in the same direction as the main force of the wind
close to the wind
: as nearly as possible against the main force of the wind
have the wind of
1
: to be to windward of
2
: to be on the scent of
3
: to have a superior position to
in the wind
: about to happen : astir, afoot
change is in the wind
near the wind
1
: close to the wind
2
: close to a point of danger : near the permissible limit
off the wind
: away from the direction from which the wind is blowing
on the wind
: toward the direction from which the wind is blowing
to the wind or to the winds
: aside, away
threw caution to the wind
under the wind
1
: to leeward
2
: in a place protected from the wind : under the lee

Synonyms

Noun (1)

Noun (2)

Verb (3)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of wind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This could cause a few places in our region to experience wind damage behind this exiting cold front. —A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024 The main threats will be damaging winds and drenching rain, but a tornado or two could also arise before storms move off the coast by late afternoon. —Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024 Monsoon weather patterns are influenced by a variety of atmospheric factors, including moisture levels, temperature gradients and wind patterns. —The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024 The property was a challenge from the get-go, with the site subject to year-round winds and a geologic setback requirement limiting the building envelope. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024 East wind 10 to 15 mph, becoming south in the afternoon. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024 Additional surveys will be needed tomorrow (April 11, 2024) to assess path length, path width and max wind speeds. —David Chiu, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024 The weather service cautioned travelers that blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility, and gusty winds could cause tree branches to fall. —Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024 Then, in the waterfront wind and chill, would come the tedium of waiting for the concrete to set. —William Wan, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
The shortfall would shut down the telescope and leave the project adrift, without enough to even wind it down properly, astronomers say. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024 So set your calendar for Aug. 12, 2045, for a total eclipse that will wind its way across California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and small portions of New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Georgia. —Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024 Then head to Gold Bluffs Beach for a picnic or wind your way back over the steep access road to enjoy the rest of the park. —Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024 Asylum-seeking families are typically released in the U.S. while their cases wind through courts. —arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024 And reviewers have even placed the palm tree outside, saying that it’s held up well to wind and rain. —Lauren Taylor, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2024 Advertisement While Masterson’s second trial played out in front of the cameras last year, another criminal case involving the Church of Scientology wound through the legal system in the same downtown L.A. courthouse. —James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024 While onshore wind is already relatively cheap compared to alternatives, bigger turbines will drive down the cost further opening new areas to wind development. —Justin Worland, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024 South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected for areas of North Texas near and west of the I-35 corridor from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. —Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (3)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wint wind, Latin ventus, Greek aēnai to blow, Sanskrit vāti it blows

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English windan to twist, move with speed or force, brandish; akin to Old High German wintan to wind, Umbrian ohavendu let him turn aside

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb (3)

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wind was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing wind

Dictionary Entries Near wind

Winckelmann

wind

Wind

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Wind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wind. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

wind

1 of 6 noun
ˈwind How to pronounce wind (audio)
1
: a movement of air
2
: something that has force or influence
the changing winds of political opinion
3
: breath sense 2a
the fall knocked the wind out of me
4
: gas produced in the stomach or the intestines
5
: something unimportant
especially : idle words
6
a
: air carrying a scent (as of a hunter or game)
b
: slight information especially about something secret
got wind of our plans
7
plural : the wind instruments of a band or orchestra
8
: the direction from which the wind is blowing

wind

2 of 6 verb
1
: to get a scent of
the dogs winded game
2
: to cause to be out of breath
the long climb winded us
3
: to allow to rest so as to recover breath
wind a horse

wind

3 of 6 verb
ˈwīnd How to pronounce wind (audio) ˈwind How to pronounce wind (audio)
winded ˈwīn-dəd How to pronounce wind (audio)
ˈwin-
 or wound ˈwau̇nd How to pronounce wind (audio) ; winding
: to sound by blowing
wind a horn

wind

4 of 6 verb
ˈwīnd How to pronounce wind (audio)
wound ˈwau̇nd How to pronounce wind (audio) also winded; winding
1
: to move in a series of twists and turns
a river winding through the valley
2
: entangle sense 2
3
a
: to encircle or cover with something flexible
b
: to coil completely or repeatedly about an object : twine
wind thread on a spool
4
: to lift, pull, move, or operate by means of a rope, cable, or chain and a winch
wind up a pail
5
: to tighten the spring of
wind a clock
wind up a toy train
winder noun

wind

5 of 6 noun
ˈwīnd How to pronounce wind (audio)
: something curved or twisted : bend

wind

6 of 6 adjective
ˈwind
: of or relating to wind instruments
the wind section of an orchestra
Etymology

Noun

Old English wind "the natural movement of air"

Verb

Old English windan "to twist, move with force"

Geographical Definition

Wind

geographical name

ˈwind How to pronounce Wind (audio)
river in west central Wyoming

Note: The Wind River is the upper course of the Bighorn River.

More from Merriam-Webster on wind

Nglish: Translation of wind for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of wind for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wind

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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