What does weather mean?
Weather names the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, including temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, and visibility. Unlike climate, which describes an area's usual long-term patterns, weather is momentary and changeable: a sunny morning, a storm at noon, and a cold evening can all be different weather. The broad noun is usually uncountable, while expressions such as severe weather and weather forecast use it in more specific combinations. The phrase the weather is the everyday expression for atmospheric conditions, and what is the weather like? asks about them. As a verb, weather means to endure hardship or exposure, as in weathering a storm or a difficult period. The word is Germanic in origin and remains cognate with forms in several modern European languages. Its practical and cultural importance is reflected in forecasts, travel plans, everyday conversation, and numerous idioms, making it both a basic description of the world and a familiar subject of discussion.
The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, especially with regard to temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, and visibility; in contrast to climate, it usually refers to conditions over a short period.
"The weather turned cold and rainy just before the match."
Normally uncountable; the plural weathers is rare.
To endure or withstand something difficult, especially adverse conditions; also, to expose something to the elements and cause it to deteriorate.
"The old bridge weathered decades of storms and harsh winters."
Commonly literary or formal, especially in the sense of enduring hardship or time.
The plural is rare; modern English normally treats weather as an uncountable noun.
"The novel evokes different weathers in different seasons."
Weather is the atmosphere's short-term mood; climate is its long-term temperament.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does weather come from?
The English word descends from Old English weder, also written wæder, meaning the state of the atmosphere, and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wēdra. It is cognate with Dutch weer, German Wetter, Danish vejr, and Icelandic veður. Its development from a general Germanic term for atmospheric conditions to modern English weather reflects the long-standing use of the word for the variable conditions of a particular time and place.
Related word forms
How weather is actually used
As a noun, weather is normally uncountable, although the plural weathers is rare. As a verb, weather is literary or formal in many contexts and can mean either to withstand difficulty or to deteriorate through exposure to the elements.
Easily confused with weather
Whether introduces an alternative or asks which option is true, whereas weather names atmospheric conditions.