jet stream

noun

: a long narrow meandering current of high-speed winds near the tropopause blowing from a generally westerly direction and often exceeding a speed of 250 miles (402 kilometers) per hour

Examples of jet stream in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And since the summer of 2024 featured an El Niño, this summer will likely be more prone to this type of stuck jet stream, according to Mr. Mann. Seth Borenstein, Christian Science Monitor, 17 June 2025 Rough spots in the jet stream The waves in the jet streams can start on the land surface, Faranda said. ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025 The jet stream dip may overtake Britain and Ireland much of next week. Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2025 Most of the weather systems in the continental U.S. are modulated by the polar jet stream, so a weaker jet stream can slow the movement of storms, creating conditions for prolonged precipitation events. Shuang-Ye Wu, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jet stream

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jet stream was in 1947

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jet stream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jet%20stream. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

jet stream

noun
: a long narrow wandering current of high-speed winds blowing from a generally westerly direction several miles above the earth's surface

More from Merriam-Webster on jet stream

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