gust
1 Americannoun
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a sudden, strong blast of wind.
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a sudden rush or burst of water, fire, smoke, sound, etc.
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an outburst of passionate feeling.
verb (used without object)
noun
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Archaic. flavor or taste.
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Obsolete. enjoyment or gratification.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a sudden blast of wind
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a sudden rush of smoke, sound, etc
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an outburst of emotion
verb
Synonym Usage
See wind 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gust1
First recorded in 1580–90; from Old Norse gustr “a gust,” akin to gjōsa, gusa “to gust”
Origin of gust2
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin gustus a tasting (of food), eating a little, akin to gustāre to taste
Explanation
A gust is a strong, short burst of air. If you're walking around on a brisk, cold day, hold on to your papers tightly — a gust of wind could sweep in and send your notes flying into the air. You've probably seen the famous image of Marilyn Monroe standing on a sidewalk with her white dress blowing in the breeze from a subway grate — that might be the most famous gust of air in popular culture. Gust comes from the Old Norse word gustr, meaning "a cold blast of wind." Gust also can be used to describe other things that come on with a sudden burst, like a violent gust of rain or an unexpected gust of sadness.
Vocabulary lists containing gust
Wind Power: The Words Beneath Your Wings
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Chains
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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
A strong gust can break apart a flock.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
His colleague, Itha Ghale, says the powerful gust of air almost blew them away as they sprinted.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
Lala carried a record wind gust of 140 miles per hour, recorded on the peak of Mauna Kea, while across the state more than 100 homes were damaged or destroyed by cataclysmic flooding.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
Large areas affected by the fire still contained active or smouldering hotspots requiring constant monitoring, as even a strong gust of wind could trigger fresh outbreaks, the spokesman said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
It looks as if a gust of wind could blow it apart with very little effort.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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.
