gale
noun
a very strong wind.
gale
1 American
[gayl]
/ geɪl /
gale
2
American
[gayl]
/ geɪl /
noun
Gale
3
American
[gayl]
/ geɪl /
noun
-
Zona 1874–1938, U.S. novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and poet.
-
a female or male given name.
gale
1
British
/ ɡeɪl /
noun
-
a strong wind, specifically one of force seven to ten on the Beaufort scale or from 45 to 90 kilometres per hour
-
(often plural) a loud outburst, esp of laughter
-
archaic a gentle breeze
gale
2
British
/ ɡeɪl /
noun
Etymology
Origin of gale1
First recorded in 1540–50; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian dialect geil “uproar, unrest, boiling”
Origin of gale2
before 1000; Middle English gail, Old English gagel; cognate with German Gagel
Explanation
If there’s a gale coming your way, you better hold onto your new hat and your little dog, Toto, too, because this is an extremely strong wind. The word gale possibly originates from the Old Norse word galinn, which means “mad”, “frantic,” or “bewitched.” Weather forecasters sometimes use the term “gale-force winds” to describe conditions that aren’t quite as extreme as hurricanes or tropical storms, but probably fierce enough to snap your kite in half. Gale can also refer to other kinds of strong outbursts. For example, if someone erupts into gales of laughter, it means her friend probably said something very funny.
Vocabulary lists containing gale
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Conditions on Ishigaki gale force with some overnight gusts to typhoon strength."
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
Seven-foot waves tossed the boat in a howling gale.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Lochaber MRT said Tuesday had started as a "beautiful day", but gale force winds hit the area in the evening and during the night.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
NBC’s new comedy “Seinfeld” blows up a gale of wit and freshness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2026
The gale came into the room for a few seconds more, then Kat shut the window again.
From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd
It will pay “The Walking Dead” creator Robert Kirkman and producers Glen Mazzara, David Alpert, Charles Eglee and Gale Anne Hurd $85 million by Sept. 18 and another $35 million by Jan. 31.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The tornado that transported Dorothy Gale from dusty Kansas to vibrant Oz might have swept up the village idiot instead.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
During the experiments, Gale and his team found that twisting the material could significantly alter both the color and wavelength of the light emitted by the quantum emitters.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 20, 2026
Sir Roger Gale, MP for Herne Bay, said the ongoing disruptions were "unacceptable".
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
In case Gale has a change of heart.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
