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adj Uncommon

westerly

WEHS-tuh-lee

Westerly (adj) means Facing, lying toward, or coming from the west. Example: “The cottage has a westerly view over the bay.”

adj
1
Facing, lying toward, or coming from the west.
"The cottage has a westerly view over the bay."
"A westerly breeze kept the beach cool all afternoon."
noun
1
A wind that blows from the west.
"Sailors in these latitudes rely on strong westerlies to make good time."

How to use westerly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo or from the west, especially describing wind or direction.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "western" — westerly usually describes direction of movement or wind, while western describes location or origin more generally.

Easily confused with

Word forms

more westerly comparative, more westerly comparative, westerlies plural, most westerly superlative, most westerly superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The cottage has a _____ view over the bay.

prevailing westerly

Rhymes for westerly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “westerly” mean?

The word “westerly” means facing, lying toward, or coming from the west. In plain terms, to or from the west, especially describing wind or direction.

How do you pronounce “westerly”?

“Westerly” is pronounced WEHS-tuh-lee (/ˈwɛs.tɚ.li/ in IPA).

How do you use “westerly” in a sentence?

Here is “westerly” used in a sentence: “The cottage has a westerly view over the bay.”

What part of speech is “westerly”?

Depending on how it is used, “westerly” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “westerly” a common word?

“Westerly” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “westerly” have?

“Westerly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: facing, lying toward, or coming from the west.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial