hurricane-force wind: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2/C1Formal, Technical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “hurricane-force wind” mean?
An extremely strong wind with a speed of 64 knots (74 mph/119 km/h) or greater on the Beaufort scale, corresponding to a Category 1 hurricane or higher.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An extremely strong wind with a speed of 64 knots (74 mph/119 km/h) or greater on the Beaufort scale, corresponding to a Category 1 hurricane or higher.
An extremely powerful wind of destructive intensity; often used metaphorically to describe any force or movement of overwhelming power or impact.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. US usage more likely in meteorological contexts due to prevalence of hurricanes. UK usage may appear more in journalistic reporting or figurative contexts.
Connotations
Implies destruction, unstoppable power, and official warning conditions.
Frequency
Higher frequency in regions prone to hurricanes (e.g., US Gulf Coast, Caribbean). In the UK, more common in news reports about major storms.
Grammar
How to Use “hurricane-force wind” in a Sentence
[Subject] + be + buffeted/battered by + hurricane-force wind(s)Hurricane-force wind(s) + sweep(s)/lash(es) + [Location]with + hurricane-force wind(s)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hurricane-force wind” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The storm front will hurricane-force its way across the country tonight. (rare, figurative)
- The region was hurricane-forced by the intense low-pressure system. (rare, figurative)
American English
- The political movement hurricane-forced through the opposition. (rare, figurative)
- The new policy was hurricane-forced into implementation. (rare, figurative)
adverb
British English
- The gusts blew hurricane-force, tearing roofs from houses. (often hyphenated as compound adjective before noun)
- The wind was blowing hurricane-force. (acceptable but less common)
American English
- Winds are expected to increase hurricane-force by afternoon.
- It's blowing hurricane-force out there right now. (acceptable but less common)
adjective
British English
- They issued a hurricane-force wind warning for the entire coast.
- The hurricane-force conditions made rescue impossible.
American English
- The hurricane-force wind warning is in effect until 8 PM.
- We are experiencing hurricane-force conditions on the bridge.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The company faced hurricane-force winds in the market after the scandal.'
Academic
Used in geography, environmental science, and meteorology papers to describe precise wind speed thresholds.
Everyday
Used in news reports and weather warnings: 'Residents are advised to stay indoors due to hurricane-force winds.'
Technical
A defined term in meteorology (Beaufort Force 12+), aviation, and maritime warnings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hurricane-force wind”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hurricane-force wind”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hurricane-force wind”
- Writing it as three separate words without hyphens (*hurricane force wind*). Using it for any strong wind instead of its specific technical meaning. Incorrect verb agreement: 'Hurricane-force wind are' (should be 'is' or 'winds are').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
On the Beaufort scale, it is Force 12 or above, which equates to sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph or 119 km/h) or greater.
Yes. It is a descriptive term for wind speed. Extratropical cyclones (like European winter storms) can produce hurricane-force winds without being tropical hurricanes.
Yes, the plural form 'winds' is very common, especially when referring to gusts or widespread windy conditions over an area.
Gale-force is weaker (Beaufort 8-9, 34-47 knots). Hurricane-force is the strongest category (Beaufort 12+, 64+ knots), denoting far more destructive power.
An extremely strong wind with a speed of 64 knots (74 mph/119 km/h) or greater on the Beaufort scale, corresponding to a Category 1 hurricane or higher.
Hurricane-force wind is usually formal, technical, journalistic in register.
Hurricane-force wind: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌr.ɪ.kən ˌfɔːs ˈwɪnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɝː.ɪ.keɪn ˌfɔːrs ˈwɪnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a hurricane-force wind of change”
- “to face the hurricane-force winds of criticism”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HURRICANE so strong it FORCES everything in its path; the WIND is its main weapon.
Conceptual Metaphor
OVERWHELMING FORCE IS A HURRICANE (e.g., hurricane-force winds of opposition, a hurricane-force debate).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the term 'hurricane-force wind' used LEAST appropriately?