wind shear

noun

: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance

Examples of wind shear 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.
Vertical wind shear, which refers to changes in wind speed and direction with height in the atmosphere, is often a primary factor in below-average hurricane season activity. Dan Peck, ABC News, 14 May 2026 In the Pacific, the opposite happens, as wind shear is reduced during El Niños. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 May 2026 Typically that means more wind shear over the Caribbean and Atlantic, and thus fewer hurricanes able to form. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026 High amounts of wind shear can weaken storms by blowing apart their spin or prevent them from forming in the first place. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wind shear

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wind shear was in 1895

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wind shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wind%20shear. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

wind shear

noun
: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance

More from Merriam-Webster on wind shear

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster