jet stream

noun

: a long narrow meandering current of high-speed winds near the tropopause blowing from a generally westerly direction and often exceeding a speed of 250 miles (402 kilometers) per hour

Examples of jet stream in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since the jet stream tends to be displaced southward during El Niño, colder air can dig further south too. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 As waters in the tropical Pacific warm, the jet stream — the fast-moving current of air that helps steer storms — can shift its path, according to the Almanac. — Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 The warm water heats the air above it, fueling more thunderstorms, lowering atmospheric pressure and altering the arrangement of pressure systems and the jet stream worldwide. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Storms are usually weaker in summer than winter because the jet stream doesn’t add as much punch to intensify them. — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for jet stream

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jet stream was in 1947

Rhymes for jet stream

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Browse Nearby Words

jetson
jet stream
jettage
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Cite this Entry

“Jet stream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jet%20stream. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

jet stream

noun
: a long narrow wandering current of high-speed winds blowing from a generally westerly direction several miles above the earth's surface

More from Merriam-Webster on jet stream

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jet stream

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