leeward

1 of 2

noun

lee·​ward ˈlē-wərd How to pronounce leeward (audio)
especially nautical
ˈlü-ərd How to pronounce leeward (audio)
: the lee side

leeward

2 of 2

adjective

: being in or facing the direction toward which the wind is blowing
also : being the side opposite the windward

Examples of leeward in a Sentence

Noun We turned the boat to leeward. Adjective the leeward side of the island we moved to the leeward side of the ship so that we wouldn't have the wind in our faces
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For plants, such walls are edges that separate patches of ground into zones that are sunny or shady, windward or leeward, uphill or downhill, wetter or drier. Robert M. Thorson, Discover Magazine, 9 Dec. 2023 Such ecological effects extend well beyond individual walls, because opposite sites are sunny and shaded, windward and leeward, and upslope and downslope. Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023 Red flag warnings for gusts around 50 mph are in effect through Monday evening, mostly in leeward areas, including those affected by the deadly Lahaina fire this summer. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2023 Maui’s wildfire risks — particularly for communities on the drier, leeward side of the island — were known. Denise Chow, NBC News, 16 Aug. 2023 The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings to the leeward sides of all the islands, which means there's a danger of wildfires spreading. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023 The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the leeward portions of all Hawaiian Islands. Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2023 The leeward — dry — side of Maui is no stranger to dangerous weather conditions for fire. Evan Bush, NBC News, 17 Aug. 2023 The warning is for leeward areas, meaning land that faces away from the wind usually sheltered by hills and mountains, due to strong winds and low humidity, the agency in Honolulu said in a morning advisory. NBC News, 9 Aug. 2023
Adjective
And to make things worse, the loss of clouds on the leeward side of the mountains can lead to sunnier conditions, heating things up even more, Datta says. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2022 The different wind directions bring lake effect snow to different towns on the leeward side of the lakes. Dave Epstein, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Nov. 2022 The trees slow the velocity of the snow, which settles on the leeward side of the trunks, forming drifts 20 feet deep. Mark Jenkins, Outside Online, 14 Feb. 2022 While most people think of Hawaii as a tropical place, the leeward side of the island is drier, and Hawaii has a year-round fire season, Walker explained. Brisa Colon and Aya Elamroussi, CNN, 7 Aug. 2021 Further north, on the off-the-grid Cayo Frances, learn to fish from legendary fly fisherwoman Lori-Ann Murphy, and enjoy the placid, shallow waters of the leeward side of the island. Ali Wunderman, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2020 This means that the leeward side of these landforms is usually drier and often protected from the high wind. Tim MacWelch, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2020 Hurricane Dorian is set to hit Puerto Rico’s leeward side later today, aiming to bring heavy rains and wind to the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Ellen McGirt, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2019 What that means is that for a steel structure, the leeward side of the back shell does not need any heat shielding. Ryan D'agostino, Popular Mechanics, 22 Jan. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leeward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1549, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1630, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leeward was in 1549

Dictionary Entries Near leeward

Cite this Entry

“Leeward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leeward. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

leeward

1 of 2 noun
lee·​ward ˈlē-wərd How to pronounce leeward (audio)
especially among sailors
ˈlü-ərd How to pronounce leeward (audio)
: the lee side

leeward

2 of 2 adjective
: located away from the wind : downwind
the leeward side of the ship

More from Merriam-Webster on leeward

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