gale

noun

ˈgāl 

1

a

: a strong current of air

especially, technically : a wind from 32 to 63 miles per hour (about 51 to 102 kilometers per hour)

b

archaic, literary : a weak or mild current of air : breeze

… having easy gales from the W.S.W. …

—Daniel Defoe

Oh, Heaven! the soft refreshing gale / It breathes into my breast!

—Henry Kirke White

2

: an emotional outburst

gales of laughter

Synonyms of gale

• explosion
• burst
• gust
• outburst
• eruption
• flash
• blaze
• storm

Examples of gale in a Sentence

The boat was damaged in a strong gale.

The winds approached gale force.

The audience erupted in gales of laughter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Because sails are made to withstand gale-force winds, the bag is structurally strong, yet looks light and luminous. — Nicholas Blechman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2026

When the gales of November came early, as the song goes, large waves and intense wind lashed the ship on her final voyage. — Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026

If this is half-speed, gale-force Shirley must be something to be reckoned with. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2026

The system, though, is likely to bring gale-force winds over parts of the central subtropical Atlantic through the weekend. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

of obscure origin

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing gale

• fresh gale
• moderate gale
• near gale
• strong gale
• whole gale

Rhymes for gale

• ail
• ale
• bail
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• hail

Kids Definition

gale

noun

ˈgā(ə)l 

1

: a strong current of air

especially : a wind of from 32 to 63 miles (about 51 to 101 kilometers) per hour

2

: an emotional outburst

gales of laughter

Biographical Definition

Gale

biographical name

ˈgāl 

Zona 1874–1938 American novelist