scudding

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitiveliterary

   Moving quickly and smoothly across the sky or surface, usually because of wind; the -ing form of scud.

   Grammar: No object, often with across or along: clouds were scudding across the sky.

   Patterns

   • scud across something
   • scud along

   Dark clouds were scudding across the sky ahead of the storm.

   Small boats scudded along the bay in the strong breeze.

   Leaves went scudding down the empty street.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounliterary

   Describing something such as a cloud or boat that races along in the wind.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: scudding clouds.

   Patterns

   • scudding clouds
   • scudding sails

   Scudding clouds made the sunlight flicker across the field.

   We watched the scudding boats from the cliff top.

   The painting shows a stormy coast under scudding skies.

Word forms

Common combinations

scudding clouds

Scudding clouds raced over the hills.

scudding across the sky

White clouds were scudding across the sky.

scudding before the wind

The yacht was scudding before the wind.

scudding along

The dinghy went scudding along the coast.

scudding past

Fallen leaves came scudding past our feet.

Synonyms and how they differ

racing

Racing is a general word for rapid movement, while scudding suggests light, wind-driven speed.

skimming

Skimming implies moving just above a surface, whereas scudding stresses being pushed along by wind.

drifting

Drifting is slow and aimless, so it is the opposite pace to scudding.

Opposites

Word family

scud verb

to move fast in the wind

scud noun

low, fast-moving cloud

scudded verb

past form of scud

Commonly confused: scudding or scudding vs. scuttling?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “scudding”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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