Word
all weather
Phoneticsal·l-weath·er, stress on the first syllable
/ˈɔlˈwɛðɚ/
Definition
adj. designed to work or be used in any type of weather, including rain, snow, or extreme heat. You use this for things like tires, clothing, or outdoor equipment that won't fail when conditions get bad.
adj. capable of functioning effectively in all weather conditions, including rain, snow, ice, and extreme temperatures. Typically used attributively before nouns.
Examples
“These all-weather tires handle snow and rain equally well.”
“The park installed all-weather benches that resist rust and fading through hot summers and freezing winters.”
“The expedition relied on all-weather gear rated for sub-zero temperatures, knowing that standard equipment would fail long before they reached the summit.”
Examples
simple
“These all-weather tires handle snow and rain equally well.”
contextual
“The park installed all-weather benches that resist rust and fading through hot summers and freezing winters.”
complex
“The expedition relied on all-weather gear rated for sub-zero temperatures, knowing that standard equipment would fail long before they reached the summit.”
Usage
Always used attributively before a noun; does not appear predicatively (*the tires are all-weather is marginal).
Etymology
Formed in English by combining "all" with "weather" with a hyphen, following the pattern of compound adjectives denoting suitability for multiple conditions. The construction parallels similar formations like "all-purpose" and "all-season" from the early 20th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/all-weather