it was windy

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe how the weather was at a particular time, often in the past. For example: "Yesterday, it was windy and the trees in the park were swaying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was windy and cold, so he took it to its Queens terminus, in Far Rockaway, and awoke to an NYPD badge.

Vice

"Then it was windy.

The New York Times - Sports

And it was windy.

The New York Times - Sports

It was windy and cold.

The New Yorker

It was windy Thursday at the Honda Classic.

The New York Times - Sports

It was windy and the stretcher blew off the easel.

The New Yorker

It was windy and the water was rough.

The New York Times

At the top, it was windy and sunny.

The New Yorker

That's why I think it was windy that day".

The New Yorker

I couldn't do it in Queenstown since it was windy.

The Guardian - Travel

"Especially when it was windy like today, it's not easy".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was windy" to set the scene or provide context in a narrative. For example, "It was windy, and the leaves swirled around our feet as we walked through the park."

Common error

Avoid simply stating "it was windy" without adding sensory details. Describe the effects of the wind, such as "It was windy, causing the trees to sway violently and the waves to crash against the shore."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was windy" primarily functions as a descriptive statement, serving to indicate the weather conditions at a specific time. Ludwig confirms that it's a valid and usable phrase in English, commonly used to set the scene in narratives or reports.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sports

25%

Travel

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

8%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was windy" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe past weather conditions. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a straightforward way to set a scene or provide context. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various settings, from news reports to casual conversation. Remember to add descriptive details about the impact of the wind to enhance your writing. Common alternatives include "the wind was strong" or "it was a blustery day".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the wind was strong

Focuses on the strength of the wind rather than simply stating its presence.

it was a blustery day

Describes the overall feeling of a windy day.

the gale was blowing

Emphasizes a strong and disruptive wind.

the weather was blustery

Focuses on weather conditions.

there was a strong breeze

Describes a pleasant yet noticeable wind.

the wind picked up

Describes an increase in wind intensity.

the wind was howling

Highlights the sound and intensity of the wind.

high winds were present

More formal way to describe the windy conditions.

a windstorm occurred

Refers to a specific event involving strong winds.

the air was gusty

Indicates sudden bursts of wind.

FAQs

How can I use "it was windy" in a sentence?

You can use "it was windy" to describe the weather conditions in a narrative or descriptive context. For example, "It was windy, so we decided to fly a kite /s/fly+a+kite" or "It was windy, making it difficult to walk straight /s/walk+straight".

What's a more descriptive alternative to "it was windy"?

Instead of simply saying "it was windy", try using more evocative phrases such as "the wind was howling /s/the+wind+was+howling", "a gale was blowing /s/a+gale+was+blowing", or "the wind whipped through the streets /s/the+wind+whipped+through+the+streets" to create a stronger image.

Which is correct, "it was windy" or "it is windy"?

"It was windy" describes a past condition, while "it is windy" describes a present condition. Use "it was windy" when referring to a past event and "it is windy" when referring to the current weather.

What impact does wind have on different activities, and how can I describe that?

Wind can significantly affect activities like sailing, flying, or even walking. You can describe its impact by saying, "It was windy, making sailing exhilarating but challenging /s/exhilarating+but+challenging" or "It was windy, so we had to cancel our picnic /s/cancel+our+picnic".