anticyclone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, Academic, Weather Forecasting, Occasionally General (News/Media)
Quick answer
What does “anticyclone” mean?
A large-scale weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its centre, around which air circulates clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large-scale weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its centre, around which air circulates clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
A system of atmospheric circulation associated with settled, often dry and clear weather. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a period of stability or the countering of a prevailing negative trend.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally technical in both varieties. The primary difference is in pronunciation (see IPA).
Connotations
Neutral/technical in both. In everyday UK weather reports, 'high-pressure system' or 'high' is more common; in the US, 'high-pressure area' is common.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK media due to the greater cultural focus on detailed weather forecasting, but it remains a specialist term in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “anticyclone” in a Sentence
The anticyclone [VERB: is/brings/remains] over the country.A large anticyclone [VERB: is dominating/is centred on] the region.An anticyclone is [ADJECTIVE: responsible for/associated with] the sunny weather.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anticyclone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The weather will be anticyclonic for the rest of the week.
- High pressure is anticycloning over Scandinavia.
American English
- The forecast calls for anticyclonic flow aloft.
- The ridge will anticyclone over the Midwest.
adverb
British English
- The air is moving anticyclonically around the high.
American English
- Winds flow anticyclonically around the center of the high.
adjective
British English
- We're enjoying anticyclonic conditions with light winds.
- An anticyclonic gloom settled over the city in winter.
American English
- Anticyclonic weather is bringing record heat to the Southwest.
- The anticyclonic rotation is clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like agriculture, aviation, or energy trading, where weather forecasts impact operations. E.g., 'The persistent anticyclone over Europe has reduced wind energy production.'
Academic
Common in meteorology, climatology, and physical geography papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Used in detailed weather forecasts and news reports, but often simplified to 'high pressure'.
Technical
Standard term in meteorological reports, charts, and scientific analyses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anticyclone”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anticyclone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anticyclone”
- Confusing 'anticyclone' with its opposite, 'cyclone'. Using it as a general term for any weather system. Misspelling as 'anti-cyclone' (the hyphen is often omitted).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While anticyclones are generally associated with settled, dry, and clear weather, they can also bring extreme heat in summer, severe frost and fog in winter, or prolonged drought.
A cyclone (or depression) is a low-pressure system with inward-spiralling winds, often bringing cloud, wind, and precipitation. An anticyclone is a high-pressure system with outward-spiralling winds, associated with calm, clear conditions.
This is due to the Coriolis effect, caused by the Earth's rotation. It deflects moving air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere (creating clockwise flow around highs) and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere (creating anticlockwise flow).
It's perfectly correct, but it's a technical term. In casual conversation, saying 'high pressure' or simply describing the weather (e.g., 'this sunny spell') is more common and natural.
A large-scale weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its centre, around which air circulates clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Anticyclone is usually technical, academic, weather forecasting, occasionally general (news/media) in register.
Anticyclone: in British English it is pronounced /ˌantɪˈsʌɪkləʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæntiˈsaɪkloʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) stable as an anticyclone (rare, metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think ANTI-cyclone: it's the OPPOSITE of a stormy cyclone. An anticyclone brings ANTI-storm weather – calm, clear, and stable.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLEAR WEATHER IS HIGH PRESSURE / STABILITY IS AN ANTICYCLONE (e.g., 'A political anticyclone settled over the country after the election.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most likely to be caused by an anticyclone?