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
Daniel DefoeOh, Heaven! the soft refreshing gale / It breathes into my breast!—Henry Kirke White
Henry Kirke White2
: an emotional outburst
gales of laughter
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
National speculation is this cycle suggests there might be more than 40 head coach vacancies when the dust settles, meaning the breeze coming off the carousel now could rise to gale-force winds come December.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
Donald Erickson and his crew to brave a gale-force storm to search for survivors of the doomed SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
What To Know Numerous weather alerts were in place for hundreds of thousands of people in Oregon and Washington on Wednesday, including a high surf advisory, hydrologic outlook, small craft advisory and gale warning.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Given the gale force NE'rly winds some minor soundside coastal flooding (up to 1-2 ft) may also occur starting with the Tue afternoon high tide cycle as well.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gale
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Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
Donald Erickson and his crew to brave a gale-force storm to search for survivors of the doomed SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
What To Know Numerous weather alerts were in place for hundreds of thousands of people in Oregon and Washington on Wednesday, including a high surf advisory, hydrologic outlook, small craft advisory and gale warning.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Given the gale force NE'rly winds some minor soundside coastal flooding (up to 1-2 ft) may also occur starting with the Tue afternoon high tide cycle as well.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gale
Cite this Entry
“Gale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gale. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gale
noun1
: 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
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