windy
WIHN-dee
Windy (adj) means marked by strong or noticeable wind. Example: “It was too windy to fly the kite properly.”
adj
1
Marked by strong or noticeable wind.
"It was too windy to fly the kite properly."
"Chicago is nicknamed the Windy City."
2
Overly long-winded or wordy in speech or writing.
"His windy speech went on for nearly an hour."
How to use windy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBlowing hard outside, or, of a person, prone to rambling on and on.
Common pairings
a windy day
windy speech
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like windy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- windies
- Comparative
- windier
- Superlative
- windiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was too _____ to fly the kite properly.
Etymology
From Old English windiġ, simply wind + the adjective suffix -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for windy
See all rhymes for windy →Frequently asked questions
What does “windy” mean?
The word “windy” means marked by strong or noticeable wind. In plain terms, blowing hard outside, or, of a person, prone to rambling on and on.
How do you pronounce “windy”?
“Windy” is pronounced WIHN-dee (/ˈwɪn.di/ in IPA).
How do you use “windy” in a sentence?
Here is “windy” used in a sentence: “It was too windy to fly the kite properly.”
What part of speech is “windy”?
“Windy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “windy” come from?
The word “windy” comes from Old English. From Old English windiġ, simply wind + the adjective suffix -y.
Is “windy” a common word?
“Windy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “windy” have?
“Windy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: marked by strong or noticeable wind.
What is the difference between windy weather and a windy speaker?
Windy weather describes conditions marked by strong or noticeable wind, while calling a speaker or piece of writing windy means it is overly long-winded or wordy. The two senses share the idea of excess, whether of moving air or of words.
What is the opposite of windy in the weather sense?
The opposite of windy weather would be calm or still conditions, where there is little or no noticeable wind.
Is calling someone's speech windy a compliment or a criticism?
Calling speech or writing windy is a criticism, implying it is overly long-winded or wordy rather than concise and to the point.