strong breeze: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to Formal. Common in weather forecasts, maritime contexts, descriptive writing, and general conversation.
Quick answer
What does “strong breeze” mean?
A wind of moderate to fresh strength, typically between 22–33 km/h (13–18 mph) on the Beaufort scale, causing small branches to move and creating noticeable resistance when walking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wind of moderate to fresh strength, typically between 22–33 km/h (13–18 mph) on the Beaufort scale, causing small branches to move and creating noticeable resistance when walking.
Often used metaphorically to describe a force of change, influence, or movement that is noticeable but not overwhelming, or to suggest refreshing or invigorating conditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. The term is equally standard in both. In UK maritime/weather contexts, 'fresh breeze' (Beaufort Force 5) is a more precise synonym.
Connotations
In the UK, often associated with coastal or countryside weather descriptions. In the US, may be used more broadly for any persistent moderate wind.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to greater cultural focus on detailed weather description.
Grammar
How to Use “strong breeze” in a Sentence
A strong breeze [verb e.g., blew, came up, whipped up] from the [direction].There was a strong breeze [prepositional phrase e.g., across the plain, on the cliff].We sailed in a strong breeze.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “strong breeze” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It's breezing up quite strongly.
- The wind is breezing strongly from the Pennines.
American English
- It's breezing up pretty strong out there.
- A strong wind breezed across the prairie.
adverb
British English
- The flags were flying strong-breeze.
- The smoke dissipated strong-breeze to the east.
American English
- The wind is blowing strong-breeze from the north.
- The clouds moved strong-breeze across the sky.
adjective
British English
- It was a strong-breeze day, perfect for the regatta.
- We had strong-breeze conditions along the coast.
American English
- We're in for some strong-breeze weather this afternoon.
- The forecast calls for strong-breeze advisories.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'A strong breeze of optimism is blowing through the markets.'
Academic
Descriptive in geography/climate studies: 'The data correlates with periods of strong breeze from the southwest.'
Everyday
Weather discussion: 'It's nice out, but there's a strong breeze so take a jacket.'
Technical
Maritime/meteorology: 'Beaufort Force 6 is defined as a strong breeze, producing large wavelets with breaking crests.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strong breeze”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strong breeze”
- Using 'strong wind' interchangeably—'strong breeze' is a specific, less intense category. 'Strong wind' suggests Beaufort Force 7 or higher.
- Pronouncing 'breeze' with a short /ɪ/ (like 'briz') instead of the long /iː/.
- Misspelling as 'breez'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally not for most everyday activities. It is considered 'moderate' wind on the Beaufort scale (Force 6). It can make certain outdoor activities like cycling or small boating more challenging but is not typically destructive.
A 'strong breeze' (Force 6, 22-33 km/h) is noticeably windy. A 'gale' starts at Force 8 (62-74 km/h) and constitutes a severe weather warning, capable of causing minor structural damage and significant travel disruption.
Yes. It often describes a noticeable, refreshing, or invigorating force of change, opinion, or influence that is not yet a disruptive 'storm' or 'gale'. For example: 'A strong breeze of reform is blowing through the institution.'
No, 'heavy' is not a standard collocation with 'breeze'. The correct adjectives are 'strong', 'fresh', 'stiff', or 'brisk'. 'Heavy' typically collocates with 'rain', 'fog', or 'air'.
A wind of moderate to fresh strength, typically between 22–33 km/h (13–18 mph) on the Beaufort scale, causing small branches to move and creating noticeable resistance when walking.
Strong breeze is usually neutral to formal. common in weather forecasts, maritime contexts, descriptive writing, and general conversation. in register.
Strong breeze: in British English it is pronounced /strɒŋ briːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /strɔːŋ briːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A strong breeze of change swept through the organisation.”
- “He's full of the strong breeze of youth and ambition.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a breeze strong enough to STRONGLY make the leaves of a tree (like a BEEch or BIRch) move and rustle (the 'BR' in breeze).
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS WIND / A FORCE IS WIND ('winds of change', 'a breeze of fresh air'). A STRONG BREEZE represents a noticeable, active, but non-destructive force for change or movement.
Practice
Quiz
On the Beaufort scale, a 'strong breeze' is officially defined as: