windswept

/ˈwɪndswept/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɪnswˌɛpt] /ˈwɪndswept/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɪnswˌɛpt] /ˈwin(d)-ˌswept How to pronounce windswept (audio)/ (ame, mw)

windswept — adjective

  • windsweptpositive
  • more windsweptcomparative
  • most windsweptsuperlative

1. describes a place that is open and exposed to strong winds, with few or no trees

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a place that is open and exposed to strong winds, with few or no trees, hills, or buildings to provide shelter or protection.

例句

Hannah grew up on a windswept island where the wind never seemed to stop.

collocation: windswept island

The windswept coastline of western Ireland attracts surfers from around the world.

collocation: windswept coastline

同義詞
  • exposed

    broader meaning — can refer to lack of shelter from rain, sun, or cold, not only wind

  • bleak

    adds a sense of emptiness and harshness that windswept implies, but bleak can also describe mood

  • barren

    focuses on lack of plant growth rather than exposure to wind; often a result of being windswept

  • windy

    much more common and general; windy describes the weather, while windswept describes the character of a place

反義詞
  • sheltered

    a sheltered place is protected from wind by trees, hills, or buildings

  • calm

    describes weather or conditions, not the permanent character of the landscape

文法句型

windswept + noun (place)

用法筆記

Often used in descriptive or literary writing about landscapes and outdoor settings. The word implies more than just a windy day — it suggests a place that is permanently or characteristically exposed to strong wind, with no natural shelter nearby.

2. describes hair that has been made messy and untidy because strong winds have blo

2.形容詞B1
釋義

describes hair that has been made messy and untidy because strong winds have blown it in various directions.

例句

Valentina came in from the garden with windswept hair and rosy cheeks.

collocation: windswept hair

Piotr's windswept hair made him look as if he had just run a long race.

同義詞
  • tousled

    gentler than windswept — can be caused by sleeping or casual styling, not necessarily wind

  • dishevelled

    more negative — implies a generally messy or unkempt appearance from any cause

  • windblown

    almost identical in meaning, but windswept is more common and slightly more literary

反義詞
  • neat

    tidy and carefully arranged, the opposite of windswept hair

  • smooth

    hair that lies flat and undisturbed

文法句型

windswept + hair / look

用法筆記

This sense is often used to create a vivid, slightly romantic or adventurous image — someone who has just come in from outdoors may look windswept. It is not a purely negative description; the messiness is seen as a natural result of being outside in the wind.

常見錯誤

❌Her hair was windswept because she forgot her comb.
✅Her hair was windswept because she walked home in the strong wind.
💡The untidiness must come from wind, not from just being uncombed.