adj · adv · noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈwɪndwə(ɹ)d/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ˈwɪnə(ɹ)d/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:W IH1 N D W ER0 D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Towards the wind, or the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The windward boat must give way to the leeward boat.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
On the side exposed to the wind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
the windward bedroom
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
In a position of advantage or superiority.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adv
Meaning 4
In a direction from which the wind blows, against or towards the wind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
We beat our way windward.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The direction from which the wind blows.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The side receiving the wind's force.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective
Meaning 7
on the side exposed to the wind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the windward islands
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: leeward
8
adverb
Meaning 8
away from the wind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they were sailing windward
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: downwind
Antonyms: leeward
9
noun
Meaning 9
the side of something that is toward the wind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: leeward
Broader terms: side, face
10
noun
Meaning 10
the direction from which the wind is coming
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: leeward
Broader terms: direction
Narrower terms: to windward, windward side, weatherboard, weather side
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English wind Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Old English -weard English -ward English windward From wind + -ward.
Across languages
Translations
54 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
наве́трен
(navétren)
— towards the wind
Catalan:
sobrevent
— towards the wind
Chinese Mandarin:
上風 /上风
(shàngfēng)
— towards the wind
Czech:
návětrný
— towards the wind
Danish:
luv
— towards the wind
Danish:
luvside
— towards the wind
Danish:
luvart
— towards the wind
Dutch:
windwaarts
— towards the wind
Dutch:
bovenwinds
— towards the wind
Dutch:
loefwaarts
— towards the wind
Dutch:
loefzijdig
— towards the wind
Finnish:
tuulenpuoleinen
— towards the wind
French:
au vent
— towards the wind
French:
à contre-vent
— towards the wind
German:
luvwärts gelegen
— towards the wind
German:
windwärts gelegen
— towards the wind
German:
im Wind gelegen
— towards the wind
German:
gegen den Wind gelegen
— towards the wind
German:
über dem Winde gelegen
— towards the wind
Greek:
προσήνεμος
(prosínemos)
— towards the wind
Hebrew:
בְּצַד הַגְלִי
(betsad hagli)
— towards the wind
Italian:
sopravento
— towards the wind
Norman:
au vent
— towards the wind
Norwegian Bokmål:
lo
— towards the wind
Norwegian Bokmål:
lovart
— towards the wind
Polish:
nawietrzny
— towards the wind
Portuguese:
de barlavento
— towards the wind
Russian:
наве́тренный
(navétrennyj)
— towards the wind
Sicilian:
straventu
— towards the wind
Spanish:
de barlovento
— towards the wind
Turkish:
rüzgârüstü
— towards the wind
Turkish:
rüzgâr yönünde
— towards the wind
Turkish:
rüzgâra doğru
— towards the wind
Ukrainian:
противі́тряний
(protyvítrjanyj)
— towards the wind
Bulgarian:
срещу́ вя́търа
(sreštú vjátǎra)
— towards the wind
German:
luvwärts
— towards the wind
German:
windwärts
— towards the wind
German:
im Wind
— towards the wind
German:
gegen den Wind
— towards the wind
German:
über dem Winde
— towards the wind
Greek:
προσηνέμως
(prosinémos)
— towards the wind
Russian:
против ветра
(protiv)
— towards the wind
Slovene:
privetrje
— towards the wind
Spanish:
a barlovento
— towards the wind
Swedish:
lovart
— towards the wind
Ukrainian:
про́ти ві́тру
(próty vítru)
— towards the wind
German:
Luv
— towards the wind
Hebrew:
צַד הַגְלִי
(tsad hagli)
— towards the wind
Italian:
sopravento
— towards the wind
Macedonian:
ветромет
(vetromet)
— towards the wind
