clouding up
- noun
- Informal
:
nublarse
- The weather report mentioned the clouding up would precede rain by an hour or two.
Examples
-
We canceled our picnic because of the sudden clouding up in the afternoon.
-
The weather report mentioned that the clouding up of the sky indicated upcoming rainfall.
-
Within a few minutes, the sky began clouding up as a storm approached.
-
Look! The sky is clouding up!
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The sky is clouding up quickly.
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The sudden clouding up in the afternoon forced us to postpone our picnic.
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As we watched the horizon, we noticed the clouding up that signaled a storm was coming.
Synonyms
15
3.4
The amount of sky covered by clouds
2
2.1
Sky covered with clouds so it is not bright
1
3.7
Water in the air turns into visible clouds
1
2.5
A sky completely covered with clouds that looks dim and gray
Antonyms
How Cloudy
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'clouds forming/increasing in the sky' is directly derivable from combining 'clouding' (formation of clouds) with the particle 'up' which signals an increase or coming into view; together they transparently convey clouds appearing. This verb+particle composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern in English, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Clouding up comes from the simple picture of clouds gathering and filling the sky. When the sky is clouding up, you can see clouds forming and the weather may change, so the phrase means 'the process of clouds forming' and often signals rain.