Definition
n. a sudden, short burst of strong wind, often with heavy rain or snow. It starts fast and usually does not last long.
n. a sudden, violent gust of wind or localised storm, often accompanied by rain or snow and lasting only a short time.
Examples
“A sudden squall hits the boat on the lake.”
“The sailors rush to lower the sails when a dark squall appears over the harbour.”
“Without warning the sky darkens and a fierce squall sweeps across the bay, churning the water white before passing as quickly as it came.”
Examples
simple
“A sudden squall hits the boat on the lake.”
contextual
“The sailors rush to lower the sails when a dark squall appears over the harbour.”
complex
“Without warning the sky darkens and a fierce squall sweeps across the bay, churning the water white before passing as quickly as it came.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “squall” in context.
Verb
01. brace for squall
“Fishermen braced for the squall as dark clouds gathered.”
verb + prep + noun
02. encounter squall
“The ferry encountered a fierce squall halfway across the channel.”
verb + noun
03. ride out squall
“The crew remained on deck to ride out the squall.”
verb + particle + noun
Adjective
04. brief squall
“A brief squall soaked the hikers before the sun returned.”
adj + noun
05. heavy squall
“A heavy squall lashed the coast with rain and strong winds.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. line of squalls
“A line of squalls moved eastward across the Atlantic.”
noun + prep + noun
07. series of squalls
“A series of squalls battered the region throughout the night.”
noun + prep + noun
08. a violent squall swept through
“A violent squall swept through the marina, damaging several yachts.”
09. brace for a heavy squall
“Small boats were told to brace for a heavy squall.”
10. caught in a sudden squall
“We were caught in a sudden squall while sailing back to harbour.”
11. hit by a snow squall
“The mountain pass was hit by a snow squall during the night.”
12. ride out the squall
“They closed the hatches and prepared to ride out the squall.”
Etymology
From Middle English *squalen and squelen (“to cry, scream, squall”), from Old Norse skvala (“to cry out”), probably ultimately imitative with influence from squeal and bawl. Cognate with Swedish skvala (“to gush, pour down”), Norwegian skval (“sudden rush of water”). The noun is probably from the verb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/squall
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0