jet stream

NOUN

upper-atmospheric wind

Synonyms

WEAK

air stream geostrophic wind gradient wind high-altitude wind high-speed wind stream prevailing wind upper-atmosphere wind

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Just as small shifts in the jet stream can change the weather, small changes in these cellular winds could change how diseases begin or progress," Cathy said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

Racing across the Atlantic with wind speeds more than 200mph, the powerful jet stream has helped develop a deep area of low pressure currently sitting near to Iceland.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Cold Arctic air, transported south over North America by the polar jet stream in the winter, meets warmer air over the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

The Northern Hemisphere was hit by severe cold waves in the final weeks of January as a polar jet stream blew icy air into Europe and North America, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Rosaleen walked across the back porch, leaned out the door, and spit a tiny jet stream across the hydrangeas.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd