weather
Americannoun
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weather
plural
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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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weathers,
present (3rd person singular)
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weathered,
past participle, past
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weathering
present participle
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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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weathers,
present (3rd person singular)
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weathered,
past participle, past
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weathering
present participle
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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:
He says he worries about extreme weather but also possible war.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
But as the world gets warmer and more subject to extreme weather, chocolate substitutes will gain ground.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
As if Southern California hasn’t seen enough wild weather, a new storm is moving in just in time for Halloween.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
Mild weather following the Chuseok holiday likely helped stabilize agricultural prices, while a stronger won may have eased upward pressure on import prices, Meritz Securities chief economist Seunghoon Stephen Lee said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
He capered out from under the porch where he lived in hot weather, and ran circles around us, dropping down to slide his hind end in the weeds.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Flooding has become more common across the United Kingdom because of extreme weathers caused by climate change.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
The voice, exuberant and straightforward for Churchill the small child, matures as he weathers the frustrations of schooling, survives war and captivity in South Africa, and steps onto the floor of Parliament in 1901.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026
Heavy rare earths are formed over millions of years, as rainfall weathers igneous rocks, breaking them down and leaving elements concentrated near the surface.
From Barron's ● Dec. 21, 2025
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
“With these winds and weathers? The island of Vistaia is the best.”
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Watters has weathered enough sea changes over his decades at Fox News that he can chart the tides.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
They’re correct that America’s alliances have weathered struggles before.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
The eastern Pacific has weathered an unusually active hurricane season this summer and fall, likely related to the development of a potentially historically strong El Niño.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Wakefield weathered the storm and, with numbers levelled up, they worked an opening for Johnstone's power and pace to deliver the decisive try.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Still, it was oddly satisfying to see the notches grow in the weathered wood.
From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder
Those airlines with healthier balance sheets may have an easier time weathering the difficulties.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
Ballooning investment on the nationwide AI build-out, as well as stock-market gains for the affluent, suggest the U.S. can continue weathering the shock for now.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
But after weathering through the lockdowns of Covid-19 and struggling with the continuing rising costs of operating, the family said things were "extremely difficult" to sustain.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Bites often leave punctures or furrows in bone, but disease, insects, weathering, and erosion can create similar features.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
In the face of the stony wall there was something like a stair: natural perhaps, and made by the weathering and splitting of the rock, for it was rough and uneven.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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