gusty

Everyday

1. Gusty weather has wind that blows in sudden strong bursts, then drops, then blows hard again. tree →
2. (rare) Gusty can describe a sudden loud burst of laughter, a sigh or a feeling. tree →

In the lessons

In weather forecasts and geography lessons «gusty winds» warn of sudden strong blows that can knock things over, so take care on bikes, near trees and at the beach. In stories it sets a wild or stormy scene. Phrases: gusty winds, a gusty day, gusty showers.

Examples

• It's a gusty day, so hold on to your umbrella. tree →
• Gusty winds blew the bins over in the night. tree →
• The forecast says gusty showers this afternoon. tree →
• Flying a kite is fun on a gusty afternoon. tree →
• The ferry was cancelled because of gusty conditions. tree →
• A gusty breeze rattled the windows. tree →
• On gusty days, the teacher doesn't let us use the climbing frame. tree →

Note

Comparative: gustier, gustiest (y changes to i). The noun is gust (a gust of wind = one sudden blow). A gusty wind is different from a steady wind: it keeps changing strength. Weather reports often give «gusts up to 60 mph», meaning the strongest bursts reach that speed, not the usual wind speed.