Meaning & use
adverse weather
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
Weather conditions that are bad enough to cause problems or danger for travel or outdoor activities.
Grammar: Uncountable: you say 'adverse weather', not 'an adverse weather' or 'adverse weathers'.
Patterns
- in adverse weather
- due to adverse weather
- adverse weather conditions
The flight was delayed because of adverse weather.
Drivers should slow down in adverse weather.
The event was canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
Common combinations
- adverse weather conditions
- Adverse weather conditions made the roads dangerous.
- in adverse weather
- The ship sailed safely in adverse weather.
- due to adverse weather
- The game was postponed due to adverse weather.
- adverse weather warning
- The coast guard issued an adverse weather warning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bad weather
- More general and informal; 'adverse weather' is often used in official or technical contexts.
- severe weather
- Suggests stronger, more dangerous conditions than 'adverse weather'.
- harsh weather
- Emphasizes unpleasantness and difficulty, often over a long period.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: adverse weather or averse?
adverse weather vs averse
Averse means strongly disliking something (e.g., 'averse to risk'). Adverse means harmful or unfavorable.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Adverse weather' is uncountable, so no article or plural is used. 'Averse' means disliking, not bad weather.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “adverse weather”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.