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Glite Dictionary
to the windward

to the windward

8.1
In the direction the wind is blowing
  • idiom
  • Specialized
translation icon : a barlovento
  • The boat sailed to the windward side of the island.

Examples

  • We should head to the windward for better wind.

  • During the storm, we moved to the windward side of the island to avoid the worst of the waves.

  • The fishing boat drifted to the windward during the night.

  • The sailors moved to the windward to gain an advantage in the race.

  • We anchored to the windward of the island to avoid the strong current.

  • The sailors adjusted the sails as they turned to the windward side of the boat.

  • The captain ordered the crew to steer the ship towards the windward direction for better sail control.

Synonyms

against the wind
vsto the windward
7 3.7

Moving toward where the wind comes from

is the sea and sailing expression rather than this plain descriptive phrasing
upwind
vsto the windward
1 3.5

In the direction the wind comes from

is used mainly at sea or in sailing rather than general situations
close to the wind
vsto the windward
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Sailing with the boat pointed almost into the wind to go as directly toward it as possible

refers simply to the wind's direction rather than this specific sailing angle
windward
vsto the windward
7.5

Toward the direction the wind comes from

is used especially in sea or sailing contexts rather than general use

Antonyms

to leeward
  • Specialized
1 8.0

On the side sheltered from the wind

Surface Forms

to the windward positive

Morphology

to + the + windward

The meaning is directly derivable from the directional pattern 'to the' combined with 'windward' (wind + -ward = toward the wind); together they yield a clear locative/directional meaning. This follows a standard English compositional pattern and has close parallels in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should understand it.

Etymology

To the windward comes from sailors who watched the wind. A boat to the windward moves toward the windward side, the side the wind comes from, so the wind hits it first, and that's why the phrase means 'in the direction from which the wind is blowing'.