westerly

¹

[ wes-ter-lee ]

adjective

1. moving, directed, or situated toward the west:

   the westerly end of the field.

2. (especially of a wind) coming from the west:

   a westerly gale.

adverb

1. toward the west:

   to escape westerly.

2. from the west:

   a sharp wind blowing westerly.

noun

, plural west·er·lies.

1. a wind that blows from the west:

   an occasional westerly that pommeled the island.

2. westerlies, (used with a plural verb) any semipermanent belt of westerly winds, especially those that prevail at latitudes lying between the tropical and polar regions of the earth.

Westerly

²

[ wes-ter-lee ]

noun

1. a town in SW Rhode Island.

westerly

/ ˈwɛstəlɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated in the west

adverb

1. towards or in the direction of the west
2. (esp of the wind) from the west

noun

1. a wind blowing from the west

westerly

/ wĕs′tər-lē /

1. A wind, especially a prevailing wind, that blows from the west. The prevailing winds in the middle latitudes are westerlies.
2. See illustration at wind

westerly

1. See prevailing westerlies .

Derived Forms

• ˈwesterliness, noun

Other Words From

• wester·li·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of westerly¹

1570–80; west + -erly, as in easterly

Example Sentences

North and westerly breezes stay very light until a noticeable gust or two possible nearer sunset.

From Washington Post

The area’s prevailing westerly winds then bring all that moist air ashore as low-level clouds — fog with occasional drizzle — that usually burns off as temperatures rise throughout the morning.

From Washington Post

Upper 80s to low 90s are possible, with a westerly breeze near 5 mph not being quite refreshing enough to offset some of this summer resurgence, arguably.

From Washington Post

Calming westerly breezes help us feel less cold, in conjunction with milder low temperatures bottoming out before dawn in the upper 30s to mid-40s.

From Washington Post

High temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s but westerly winds gust near 50 mph as sustained winds approach 30 mph for a time.

From Washington Post

Strong easterly winds drove the fire down the westerly slopes of the Carmel Range.

From The Daily Beast

The sun was printing over the floor the shadow skeleton of the juniper-tree by the westerly window.

From Project Gutenberg

But from south-westerly winds, were no further advanced by the 8th than the meridian of Cape Chatham.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the Northumberland Islands, we have experienced westerly winds, but they blew in light breezes with fine weather.

From Project Gutenberg

The westerly wind turned out very light, and without a good sailing breeze racing becomes peaceful repose.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a soft westerly breeze at the time, which gave a short beat out to the Needles.

From Project Gutenberg