gentle breeze

Light, cooling air

A gentle breeze is a light, pleasant wind—enough to rustle leaves or cool skin without being forceful.

The phrase appears in the Beaufort scale as a specific wind speed (8-12 mph), but in everyday use it simply means a soft, agreeable movement of air: A gentle breeze came through the open window.

susurrusSoft rustling sound
airGaseous envelope surrounding Earth
cool airChilled atmospheric movement
waftDrift on air
zephyrMild, gentle breeze

soft wind · softness · flutter · soothing · wind chime · rustle · breath · harmony · subtlety · calmness · balmy · summer day · whisper · refreshing · fresh air · open window · ephemerality · tranquil

Categories

Wind termscalm, windy, gusty, blustery, still
Weather imagerythunder, lightning, snow scenes, mist, tempest
windwind, gale, gust, gusts, crosswinds
ambient soundsrain, wind, ocean, thunder rumble, crickets
breezessoft wind, zephyr, light wind, trade winds
windswind, gust, gusts, gale, squall

Opposites

wind intensity

gentle breezegale

Severe sustained wind

hurricane · gust · violent storm · tempest · howling wind

sensory quality

gentle breezebiting wind

air movement presence

gentle breezedead calm

Complete absence of wind

stillness · still air · stagnant air · airlessness · dead air

Family

gentle, breeze, gently, breezy, gentleness, gentler, gentlest, breezed, breezing

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G