Skip to main content
tailwind

tailwind

8 3.5
A wind from behind that helps a vehicle go faster
  • noun
  • /ˈteɪlˌwɪnd/
translation icon : viento de cola
  • Within ten miles of Lovelock, the car appeared to catch a tailwind that made it go faster than he thought it should.
  • a strong tailwind
  • a good tailwind
  • going downhill with a tailwind

They were banking on the tailwind to keep their speed up, so we'll see.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • During our flight, we enjoyed a strong tailwind that helped us reach our destination faster.

  • Got to love a tailwind.

  • Now we got a nice tailwind, so our flight time to Bakersfield should be just under three hours.

  • They were banking on the tailwind to keep their speed up, so we'll see.

  • We've had a strong tailwind and we expect to arrive at Boston's Logan Airport almost on time.

  • Israel's robust demography—a record high fertility rate in Western countries of three births per woman—provides a tailwind for its economy.

    Academic text (2013)
  • The pilot reported a favorable tailwind, allowing the aircraft to save fuel on the long journey.

  • Sailing with a good tailwind can significantly reduce travel time across the ocean.

Antonyms

18 5.3

A wind that blows against travel and makes moving harder for a plane or cyclist

How Helpful

tailwind
8 3.5
calm
735 1.0
headwind
18 5.3

Surface Forms

tailwind singular
tailwinds plural

Morphology

tailwind = tail + wind (transparent) = tail + wind

A literal compound: 'tail' + 'wind' denotes a wind at the tail of a craft that aids movement, which B1 learners can infer from the parts.

Etymology

The word tailwind comes from the simple parts tail and wind. Imagine the wind at your 'back', like a helpful tail pushing you forward. That's why a tailwind helps a ship, plane, or cyclist move faster.