Meaning & use
gusting
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“gusting” is a form of “gust”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Blowing in sudden short bursts of strong wind, usually used in weather forecasts and descriptions.
Grammar: No object; often followed by to and a speed: winds gusting to fifty miles per hour.
Patterns
- wind gusting to a speed
- gusting across something
Winds were gusting to sixty miles per hour along the coast.
The storm was gusting so hard that the ferry was canceled.
A cold breeze kept gusting through the open window.
adjectivebefore a noun
Coming in sudden bursts, used to describe wind or weather that is not steady.
Grammar: It sits before the noun: gusting winds, a gusting storm.
Patterns
- gusting wind
- gusting rain
Gusting winds knocked over several trees in the park.
The pilots struggled to land in gusting conditions.
We walked home through gusting rain.
Common combinations
- winds gusting to
- Winds gusting to forty miles per hour are expected.
- gusting wind
- The gusting wind made the umbrella useless.
- gusting conditions
- Gusting conditions delayed the flight.
- gusting up
- The breeze was gusting up before the storm.
Synonyms and how they differ
- blustering
- Blustering describes loud, rough and sometimes boastful wind, while gusting stresses sudden bursts.
- squally
- Squally adds the idea of short storms with rain, whereas gusting mainly describes the wind.
- blowing
- Blowing is neutral and can be steady, while gusting means uneven bursts.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: gusting or gusto?
gusting vs gusto
Gusto means great enthusiasm and has nothing to do with wind, despite the similar start.
Practice
The forecast warned of winds ___ to seventy miles per hour overnight.
Choose one answer.
Gusting is the -ing form used after wind in forecasts; gusto is a noun, gustier is a comparative, and gustily is an adverb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gusting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.