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Synonyms

prevailing wind

American  
[pri-vayl-ing wind] / prɪˈveɪl ɪŋ ˈwɪnd /

noun

plural

prevailing winds

  1. Meteorology. a wind from a specified direction that is the typical or predominant wind direction in a particular region or season (often used in the plural).

  2. the dominant direction of public attitudes and trends.

prevailing wind Scientific  
/ prĭ-vā′lĭng /

  1. A wind that blows predominantly from a single general direction. The trade winds of the tropics, which blow from the east throughout the year, are prevailing winds.

  2. See illustration at wind

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.

Agguttinni means "where the prevailing wind occurs" in the Inuktitut local dialect.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2024

Do you have a prevailing wind direction in your yard?

From Seattle Times • Nov. 21, 2023

Maui’s terrain and prevailing wind patterns also had a powerful effect on the fire’s movement.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2023

Authorities are strongly recommending limited outdoor activities across portions of south-east Albuquerque and the South Valley, where the prevailing wind carried the smoke.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2023

The prevailing wind was westerly, as at Efrafa.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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.