weather
Americannoun
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the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc.
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a strong wind or storm or strong winds and storms collectively.
We've had some real weather this spring.
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a weathercast.
The radio announcer will read the weather right after the commercial.
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Usually weathers. changes or vicissitudes in one's lot or fortunes.
She remained a good friend in all weathers.
verb (used with object)
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to expose to the weather; dry, season, or otherwise affect by exposure to the air or atmosphere.
to weather lumber before marketing it.
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to discolor, disintegrate, or affect injuriously, as by the effects of weather.
These crumbling stones have been weathered by the centuries.
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to bear up against and come safely through (a storm, danger, trouble, etc.).
to weather a severe illness.
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Nautical. (of a ship, mariner, etc.) to pass or sail to the windward of.
to weather a cape.
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Architecture. to cause to slope, so as to shed water.
verb (used without object)
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to undergo change, especially discoloration or disintegration, as the result of exposure to atmospheric conditions.
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to endure or resist exposure to the weather.
a coat that weathers well.
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to go or come safely through a storm, danger, trouble, etc. (usually followed bythrough ).
It was a difficult time for her, but she weathered through beautifully.
idioms
noun
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the day-to-day meteorological conditions, esp temperature, cloudiness, and rainfall, affecting a specific place Compare climate
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(modifier) relating to the forecasting of weather
a weather ship
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a prevailing state or condition
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(of a vessel) to roll and pitch in heavy seas
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(foll by of) to carry out with great difficulty or unnecessarily great effort
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informal
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not in good health
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intoxicated
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adjective
verb
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to expose or be exposed to the action of the weather
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to undergo or cause to undergo changes, such as discoloration, due to the action of the weather
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(intr) to withstand the action of the weather
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to endure (a crisis, danger, etc)
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(tr) to slope (a surface, such as a roof, sill, etc) so as to throw rainwater clear
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(tr) to sail to the windward of
to weather a point
Usage
What’s the difference between weather and climate? Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions—the temperature and precipitation on a certain day, for example. Climate refers to the average atmospheric conditions that prevail in a given region over a long period of time—whether a place is generally cold and wet or hot and dry, for example. It can also refer to the region or area that has a particular climate. Weather can also be a verb, meaning to expose something to harsh conditions (such as by placing it outside, in the weather), often in order to change it in some way, as in We need to weather this leather to soften it. It can also mean to endure a storm or, more metaphorically, a negative or dangerous situation, as in We will simply have to weather the recession. As nouns, both weather and climate can be used figuratively to refer to the general (nonliteral) atmosphere of a place or situation, as in phrases like political climate and fair-weather friend. In scientific terms, both weather and climate are about atmospheric conditions like temperature, precipitation, and other factors. But they differ in scale. Weather involves the atmospheric conditions and changes we experience in the short term, on a daily basis. Rain today, sun tomorrow, and snow next month—that’s weather. Climate involves average atmospheric conditions in a particular place over a long period of time (this is often understood to mean 30 years or more). Is the place where you live consistently rainy and cool? Is it always 72 degrees and sunny? That’s climate. So, when you’re making small talk about whether it’s rainy or sunny that day, you’re discussing the weather. If you’re complaining that it’s always way too hot where you live, all year round, you’re discussing your regional climate. Changes to climate—even an average temperature rise of a few degrees—can alter the weather patterns that we’re accustomed to. More extreme and more frequent storms, floods, and droughts are some examples of weather events that are being fueled by a warming of the climate. Here’s an example of weather and climate used correctly in a sentence. Example: When you live in an extremely dry climate, a rare day of rainy weather is thrilling. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between weather and climate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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weathersimple
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weatherssimple
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have weatheredperfect
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has weatheredperfect
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am weatheringprogressive
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are weatheringprogressive
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is weatheringprogressive
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have been weatheringperfect progressive
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has been weatheringperfect progressive
Past
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weatheredsimple
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had weatheredperfect
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was weatheringprogressive
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were weatheringprogressive
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had been weatheringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of weather
First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun), Old English weder; cognate with Dutch weder, German Wetter, Old Norse vethr
Explanation
Weather is the atmospheric conditions, including the temperature, wind, snow, rain, or anything else happening outside. People tend to talk about the weather when they can't think of anything else to talk about. In some places, people say, "Don't like the weather? Wait an hour and it'll change." Every day, experts try to predict the weather, but they never get it exactly right. You can also use weather to mean "endure something," as in "I weathered the storm at work." That's not a real storm, but a stormy situation. Even though the weather drives us all crazy at times, at least it gives us something to blab about.
Vocabulary lists containing weather
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Two-Faced Words: Contronyms
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Physical Geography - Introductory
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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:
Since World War I, the stock exchange has also been shuttered because of extreme weather, the 1977 New York City blackout and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The protracted heat and humidity, with warm nights offering little relief, has had weather and public health authorities warning of an elevated risk of heat illness on and off for weeks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
But he named others: “Let’s say orders would slow before the income statement changes. It could be a shrinking backlog. Or it might be a blip” because of bad weather.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
The hot weather will initially be focused on central and eastern England by Tuesday before spreading slightly northwards and westwards into midweek.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
They may not have watched the weather forecast every night like Natalie did, but when there was a hurricane, everybody in South Florida turned to Maria for the latest.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
They typically have longer ranges than bullets and work in all weathers, unlike interceptor drones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026
Investors will have to wait and see if the sector weathers the dividend storm, too.
From Barron's ● Jan. 7, 2026
Michael Cullen went from sleeping rough in Liverpool to raising £1m by doing charity walks in all weathers in just his swimming trunks.
From BBC ● May 30, 2025
The people who work in governmental institutions — and therefore the institutions themselves—are rather like the ballast that keeps a ship upright and balanced in different weathers.
From Salon ● Dec. 8, 2024
It had been found instead by half-educated seamen prepared to stand on the deck of a ship in all weathers.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Platner galvanized an enthusiastic base of supporters and weathered months of controversies surrounding his personal life by selling a story of redemption and what he called “healthy” masculinity.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
A weathered notebook contains messages from those who have stopped by.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Zoom out over the full year and cybersecurity stocks are some of the only names that have weathered the software storm.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
The “Jackass” family has also weathered tragedy, including the loss of cast member Ryan Dunn, who died in a car crash in 2011.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
It was creepy enough from the outside, the Spanish-style architecture crumbling from age, broken windows, a weathered stone cross at the top, all the classic dark-and-stormy-night elements.
From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth
France is weathering a third heatwave in less than three months, with fires raging in several parts of the country over the past week.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
That shift in perspective comes after weathering some brutal setbacks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
Across the study area, the researchers estimated that rock weathering offsets about 35 percent of river CO2 emissions on average.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 20, 2026
Studies have shown that NMs can form spontaneously through the weathering of natural minerals in charged water microdroplets or under UV irradiation.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 10, 2026
In her kitchen she sat down and cupped her hands in her lap and stared out the window at the weathering carriage house.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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.
