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Glite Dictionary
to leeward

to leeward

1 8.0
On the side sheltered from the wind
  • idiom
  • /tə ˈluːərd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : a sotavento
  • They set up their tents on the leeward side of the hill, where they would be safe from the storm.

Examples

  • I came nearly alongside to leeward of him.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • We would see the signal of the waiting craft, draw up to leeward of her, hang out our fenders, and send our lines aboard her.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Turn to leeward!

    In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

  • If you must go whoop-whoop, please go whoop-whoop not to windward, but to leeward.

    Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

  • Spires and cupolas flashed bronze and drifted to leeward.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The shelter was built to protect the campers from the wind on the leeward side of the mountain.

  • Sailing the boat was easier when we turned to the leeward direction, away from the strong winds.

Synonyms

downwind
vsto leeward
8 2.8

In the direction the wind blows

focuses on being sheltered rather than merely the wind direction
leeward side
vsto leeward
  • Specialized
1 5.9

The side of something protected from the wind

is the phrase for position more generally, not only naming a side
lee side
vsto leeward
1 6.3

The side that is protected from the wind, for example behind a hill

is the general location term not tied to ships or hills
leeward
vsto leeward
  • Specialized
6.4

On the side away from the wind and protected from it

is the phrase used to state position relative to the wind
lee
vsto leeward
7.5

On the side protected from the wind

is the standard phrase rather than the short traditional term
alee
vsto leeward
  • Jargon
9.9

On the side sheltered from the wind on a boat

is the general phrase not limited to nautical use

Antonyms

windward
7.5

Toward the direction the wind comes from

Surface Forms

to leeward singular
to leewards plural

Morphology

to + leeward

The phrase is compositionally built from 'to' (toward) + 'leeward' (the downwind side), so its meaning 'toward the sheltered/downwind side' is directly derivable from the constituents. It follows a common English directional/prepositional pattern (e.g., 'to windward'), so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it, despite its somewhat nautical register.

Etymology

To leeward comes from old sailors: lee meant the protected, quiet side of a ship or of the land, and being to leeward put you on that side away from the wind, so the phrase now means 'on the side sheltered from the wind'.