Zephyr
noun /ˈzɛfər/ — A soft, gentle breeze — especially from the west.
Definition
A soft, gentle breeze; in mythology, the god of the west wind, associated with the gentle breezes of spring.
Beyond the definition
Zephyr is used for the kind of breeze you don't expect to notice — and then it passes over you and everything shifts slightly. It's the word for warmth and movement that arrives like a small gift. Poets use it for spring air.
Origin & history
From Latin Zephyrus, from Greek Zephyros — the god of the west wind, son of Eos (dawn) and Astraeus (stars). Associated with spring and gentle weather.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
A zephyr moved through the garden, lifting the edge of the tablecloth before passing on.
She stood on the cliff in the zephyr that came off the sea and thought of nothing at all.
The kite barely needed her help — the steady zephyr did most of the work.
Synonyms
breeze, breath of wind, light wind, gentle gust, waft
Antonyms
gale, storm, tempest
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Walking through an herb garden
An adult walks through a garden, brushing hands through foliage, releasing aromatic scents into the warming, moving air.
The movement of air through the plants acts as a gentle, warm breeze. This zephyr carries the fragrance of the garden, illustrating the soft, light quality of the west wind in spring that brings new life to the air.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration