gale

noun

ˈgāl 

1

a

: a strong current of air:

(1)

: a wind from 32 to 63 miles per hour (about 51 to 102 kilometers per hour)

(2)

: fresh gale see Beaufort Scale Table

b

archaic : breeze

2

: an emotional outburst

gales of laughter

Synonyms

• agony
• blaze
• burst
• ebullition
• eruption
• explosion
• fit
• flare
• flare-up
• flash
• flush
• gush
• gust
• outburst
• paroxysm
• spasm
• storm

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

The gale had grown so strong that the horses and Jigsaw staff struggled to stay upright, and with limited trailers, only four horses could be evacuated at a time. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2025

Prepare to be blown away: Astronomers have recorded the most powerful planetary wind thus far — a force that pummels a giant exoplanet with gales faster than the speed of sound. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025

On the Beaufort Scale, winds of these strengths are classified as gale to violent storm. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

November gales caused by colliding air masses Weather is unpredictable in the fall in the Great Lakes region. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

of obscure origin

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing gale

• fresh gale
• moderate gale
• near gale
• strong gale
• whole gale

Kids Definition

gale

noun

ˈgā(ə)l 

1

: 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

Gale

biographical name

ˈgāl 

Zona 1874–1938 American novelist