windward
/ˈwɪndwə(ɹ)d/adjective, adverb, noun
windward is spelled W-I-N-D-W-A-R-D: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 37,459th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, windward means “Towards the wind, or the direction from which the wind is blowing” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in windward?
| Letters | 8: W-I-N-D-W-A-R-D |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 37,459th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is windward?
Windward appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 37,459th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce windward?
- /ˈwɪndwə(ɹ)d/
- /ˈwɪnə(ɹ)d/
Windward has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-windward.wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-windward2.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of windward
- more windward comparative
- most windward superlative
- wind'ard
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does windward mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Towards the wind, or the direction from which the wind is blowing.
The windward boat must give way to the leeward boat.
- 2
On the side exposed to the wind.
the windward bedroom
- 3
In a position of advantage or superiority.
adverb
- 1
In a direction from which the wind blows, against or towards the wind.
We beat our way windward.
noun
- 1
The direction from which the wind blows.
- 2
The side receiving the wind's force.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Windward in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense towards the wind:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | au vent, à contre-vent |
| German | luvwärts gelegen, windwärts gelegen, im Wind gelegen, gegen den Wind gelegen, über dem Winde gelegen, luvwärts |
| Portuguese | de barlavento, barlavento |
| Spanish | de barlovento, a barlovento, barlovento |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does windward come from?
From wind + -ward.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).