What does "windward" mean?
The direction from which the wind blows.
Windward
/ˈwɪndwə(ɹ)d/ adj, adv, noun
adj, adv, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The direction from which the wind blows.
- Grammar: windward is listed as adj, adv, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: advantageous, alee, anticlockwise, aweather.
- Useful contrasts: leeward, detrimental, disadvantageous.
- Usage evidence: Parts facing the oncoming flow are said to be windward, and parts facing away from the flow are said to be leeward.
How to use "windward"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "windward" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "windward" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "windward" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "windward" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "windward" is acting as adj, adv, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "advantageous" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "windward", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The direction from which the wind blows.
"A vessel has the weather gage of another when she is to windward of her. A weatherly ship is one that works well to windward, making but little leeway."
- 2 the side of something that is toward the wind wordnet
- 3 The side receiving the wind's force.
- 4 the direction from which the wind is coming wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Towards the wind, or the direction from which the wind is blowing.
"The windward boat must give way to the leeward boat."
- 2 On the side exposed to the wind.
"the windward bedroom"
- 3 In a position of advantage or superiority. figuratively
"[…] but while they own what G. Fox hath written, and that he writ it with a perfect spirit: I say untill they do make some Recantation or Retractation: or shew the Reasons why they doe not, H. Norton who keeps more plainly to his Principles is to windward of them, and the Foxians do but strip themselves naked to be more derided and scorned as the more notorious Juglers and Dissemblers ."
Adjective
- 1 on the side exposed to the wind wordnet
Adverb
- 1 In a direction from which the wind blows, against or towards the wind. not-comparable
"We beat our way windward."
Adverb
- 1 toward the wind wordnet
Example
"Parts facing the oncoming flow are said to be windward, and parts facing away from the flow are said to be leeward."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "windward"?
Common synonyms include: advantageous, alee, anticlockwise, aweather, beneficial, clockwise.
How do you use "windward" in a sentence?
Parts facing the oncoming flow are said to be windward, and parts facing away from the flow are said to be leeward.
How do you pronounce "windward"?
Pronounced /ˈwɪndwə(ɹ)d/.
Etymology
From wind + -ward.