updraft

noun

up·​draft ˈəp-ˌdraft How to pronounce updraft (audio)
-ˌdräft
: an upward movement of gas (such as air)

Examples of updraft 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.
Because the temperature difference between the two air masses fuels the updrafts that cause storms, this mixing tamps down storm activity. — Damien Pine, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026 This upward motion creates a powerful current of air known as an updraft. — Yunyao Li, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 NBCUniversal is hoping Peacock will catch a huge updraft from a new bundling pact with Google’s YouTube. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 July 2026 This shear can cause the storm’s updraft to begin rotating, creating a spinning column of air inside the storm; under the right conditions, that rotation can tighten and extend toward the ground, producing a tornado. — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for updraft

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of updraft was circa 1887

Rhymes for updraft

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Browse Nearby Words

updo
updraft
updraft kiln
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Cite this Entry

“Updraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/updraft. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

updraft

noun
up·​draft ˈəp-ˌdraft How to pronounce updraft (audio)
-ˌdrȧft
: an upward movement of gas (as air)

More from Merriam-Webster on updraft

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about updraft

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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