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

The weather in Wales was terrible, with snow and freezing temperatures and Arctic gales. —Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

But not one single titter, giggle or full blown gale of laughter erupted from my mouth tonight. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026

The wings won’t rip off in a gale. —Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

There are hazardous beach and marine conditions with a high risk of life-threatening rip currents, gale warning and small craft advisories. —Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Feb. 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