Skip to main content
to squall

to squall

7.0
To blow suddenly and very strongly, often during a storm
  • verb
  • /skwɔl/
translation icon : soplar en ráfagas
  • The wind began to squall unexpectedly, shaking the trees and sending leaves swirling into the air.

Examples

  • He turned back only when the wind rose from the black distance and drove into him, squalling with snow and bitterness.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Seasonal rainstorms still squall into Georgia from the ocean and erode the edges of the canyon, cutting new gullies and raking noticeable tracks along the soft slopes.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • As the storm approached, the wind started to squall, howling loudly and rattling the windows.

  • While sailing, we had to brace ourselves as the wind would squall suddenly, making the boat lean to one side.

Synonyms

to gust
vsto squall
14 3.2

To blow in sudden strong bursts of wind

is a more violent, sustained increase in wind intensity

Compounds

squall line
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A narrow line of strong storms that brings heavy rain and strong winds

line squall
  • Specialized
8.8

A long line of sudden, strong storms that moves along a weather front

How Strong

to storm
16 1.0
to squall
7.0
to blow
711 1.0
to breeze
1 1.0

Surface Forms

squall infinitive
squalled past
squalled past participle
squalling present participle
squalls third person singular

Etymology

The verb squall (for wind) also comes from that idea of a sudden sharp noise, so to squall means the wind 'blows suddenly' and strongly, like a quick, loud shout of weather.