Headwind
noun
A wind blowing directly against the course of a moving object, specifically an aircraft or a ship.
The airplane had a hard time taking off due to the headwind.
Often appears as...
- strong headwind
- fight against a headwind
noun
A force or influence that slows or makes it difficult to progress.
The economic downturn created a headwind for our company's growth.
Often appears as...
- face economic headwinds
- overcome headwinds
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A wind blowing directly against the course of a moving object, specifically an aircraft or a ship.
The airplane had a hard time taking off due to the headwind.
Often appears as...
- strong headwind
- fight against a headwind
noun
A force or influence that slows or makes it difficult to progress.
The economic downturn created a headwind for our company's growth.
Often appears as...
- face economic headwinds
- overcome headwinds
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Meaning
Refers to actual wind against a ship or plane, making travel harder.
The pilot reported a strong headwind, delaying our flight.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Challenges
Used to describe physical struggles similar to facing wind while moving.
They faced a real headwind while biking uphill.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Weather
While related to nature, it often explains difficulty in a journey or mission.
Her headwind was the mountain terrain, not the actual wind.
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Meaning
Refers to actual wind against a ship or plane, making travel harder.
The pilot reported a strong headwind, delaying our flight.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Challenges
Used to describe physical struggles similar to facing wind while moving.
They faced a real headwind while biking uphill.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Weather
While related to nature, it often explains difficulty in a journey or mission.
Her headwind was the mountain terrain, not the actual wind.
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Meaning
Refers to actual wind against a ship or plane, making travel harder.
The pilot reported a strong headwind, delaying our flight.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Challenges
Used to describe physical struggles similar to facing wind while moving.
They faced a real headwind while biking uphill.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Weather
While related to nature, it often explains difficulty in a journey or mission.
Her headwind was the mountain terrain, not the actual wind.
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Video examples
Cory Combs: The future...
It also represents my biggest personal impact on the environment, just as it does for many of us who fly multiple times a year. Aviation will continue to face fierce headwinds globally even after the pandemic subsides, because flying is becoming the symbol of a polluting lifestyle.
Video examples
Political common ground...
On one side are those who have the tailwinds of globalization and the meritocracy blowing at their back, and they tend to favor open trade, open borders, open social mores, because there are so many opportunities. On the other side are those who feel the headwinds of globalization
Video examples
Dambisa Moyo: Is China...
and in effect go around the world and continue to try and push an agenda of private capitalism and liberal democracy, this is basically going against headwinds, but it also would be a natural stance for the West to take because in many ways it is the antithesis
Video examples
Robert Gordon: The death...
They're demographics, education, debt and inequality. They're powerful enough to cut growth in half. So we need a lot of innovation to offset this decline. And here's my Because of the headwinds, if innovation continues to be as powerful as it has been
Video examples
Chasing the World’s...
that i was not familiar with all of a sudden the tornado changed directions it also ballooned to a much bigger size before he knew it anton was way too close the wind began to get very intense roaring at us as a headwind from the south
Video examples
The psychology of...
When you're struggling against headwinds, those obstacles are all you can see. It's what you notice and remember. But when the wind's at your back and everything's going your way, all you notice is yourself and our own amazing talents.
Video examples
Let's launch a satellite...
And I've worked my whole career for a moment like this -- the moment, when we can stop fighting headwinds and start to have the wind at our backs. Because of the power of information, information from technology
Video examples
How to escape...
There is wonderful work happening in this country. But I have to say it's happening in spite of the dominant culture of education, not because of it. It's like people are sailing into a headwind all the time.
Video examples
Building social capital...
mile an hour headwinds we arrived in tampa kansas Mayor Jim clemmer and 15 locals treated us to a huge meal though not an artist himself Mayor Jim ripped a favorite piece of art of his wall and said
Video examples
How to transform...
These are the stories of the steps we take as peoples, cities, companies and public bodies in caring for the air in spite of strong headwinds.
Video examples
Cory Combs: The future...
It also represents my biggest personal impact on the environment, just as it does for many of us who fly multiple times a year. Aviation will continue to face fierce headwinds globally even after the pandemic subsides, because flying is becoming the symbol of a polluting lifestyle.
Video examples
Political common ground...
On one side are those who have the tailwinds of globalization and the meritocracy blowing at their back, and they tend to favor open trade, open borders, open social mores, because there are so many opportunities. On the other side are those who feel the headwinds of globalization
Video examples
Dambisa Moyo: Is China...
and in effect go around the world and continue to try and push an agenda of private capitalism and liberal democracy, this is basically going against headwinds, but it also would be a natural stance for the West to take because in many ways it is the antithesis
Video examples
Robert Gordon: The death...
They're demographics, education, debt and inequality. They're powerful enough to cut growth in half. So we need a lot of innovation to offset this decline. And here's my Because of the headwinds, if innovation continues to be as powerful as it has been
Video examples
Chasing the World’s...
that i was not familiar with all of a sudden the tornado changed directions it also ballooned to a much bigger size before he knew it anton was way too close the wind began to get very intense roaring at us as a headwind from the south
Video examples
The psychology of...
When you're struggling against headwinds, those obstacles are all you can see. It's what you notice and remember. But when the wind's at your back and everything's going your way, all you notice is yourself and our own amazing talents.
Video examples
Let's launch a satellite...
And I've worked my whole career for a moment like this -- the moment, when we can stop fighting headwinds and start to have the wind at our backs. Because of the power of information, information from technology
Video examples
How to escape...
There is wonderful work happening in this country. But I have to say it's happening in spite of the dominant culture of education, not because of it. It's like people are sailing into a headwind all the time.
Video examples
Building social capital...
mile an hour headwinds we arrived in tampa kansas Mayor Jim clemmer and 15 locals treated us to a huge meal though not an artist himself Mayor Jim ripped a favorite piece of art of his wall and said
Video examples
How to transform...
These are the stories of the steps we take as peoples, cities, companies and public bodies in caring for the air in spite of strong headwinds.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jimmy Iovine
American Producer
Everyone's frightened. It's how you deal with that fear. It's very, very powerful. And what you've got to do is get it as a tailwind instead of a headwind. And that's a little bit of a judo trick in your mind. And once you learn that, fear starts to excite you. Because you know that you are going to enter into something and try it and risk.
Quote examples
Jay Carney
American Public Servant
We believe that it is very important that we have hopefully averted what would have been the most substantial headwind of all, which is a default for the first time in our history, and that that will contribute to a more positive environment that we hope will allow for greater growth and job creation.
Quote examples
Michael Burry
American Businessman
Innovation, especially in America, is continuing at a breakneck pace, even in areas facing substantial political or regulatory headwinds. The advances in health care in particular are breathtaking - so many selfless souls are working to advance science, and this is heartening.
Quote examples
Antonio Guterres
Portuguese Politician
As we face the headwinds of our troubled and turbulent times, let us always be inspired by the legacy of Kofi Annan - and guided by the knowledge that he will continue speaking to us, urging us on toward the goals to which he dedicated his life and truly moved our world.
Quote examples
Michael Spence
American Economist
Developing economies may not have much control over the headwinds that they face today, but that does not mean that they are powerless. Much can be done not just to sustain moderate growth but also to secure a more prosperous and resilient future.
Quote examples
Borje Ekholm
Swedish Businessman
I think we have challenges, but we have so many opportunities to get it right. I like it when we have a little bit of a headwind. The kite actually lifts when you have a headwind and doesn't when there is lift from the back.
Quote examples
Howard Schultz
American Businessman
I do think - as self-serving as it sounds - that I was the right person, given the very, very strong headwind we had from the economy and our own issues, to come back and rewrite the future of the company.
Quote examples
David Plouffe
American Public Servant
We're facing headwinds from Europe. Europe doing the right things here to stabilize their situation is important to our small businesses, our workers, the middle class here, and overall economy.
Quote examples
Mohamed El-Erian
Egyptian Businessman
Investors should be cautiously positioned as the global economy and markets face major uncertainties. The downgrade will be a further headwind to growth and job creation in the U.S.
Quote examples
Henry Paulson
American Public Servant
I happen to think that global slowdown, the slowdown in investment, strengthening dollar probably provide more of a headwind than we get from the decline in oil prices.
Quote examples
Jimmy Iovine
American Producer
Everyone's frightened. It's how you deal with that fear. It's very, very powerful. And what you've got to do is get it as a tailwind instead of a headwind. And that's a little bit of a judo trick in your mind. And once you learn that, fear starts to excite you. Because you know that you are going to enter into something and try it and risk.
Quote examples
Jay Carney
American Public Servant
We believe that it is very important that we have hopefully averted what would have been the most substantial headwind of all, which is a default for the first time in our history, and that that will contribute to a more positive environment that we hope will allow for greater growth and job creation.
Quote examples
Michael Burry
American Businessman
Innovation, especially in America, is continuing at a breakneck pace, even in areas facing substantial political or regulatory headwinds. The advances in health care in particular are breathtaking - so many selfless souls are working to advance science, and this is heartening.
Quote examples
Antonio Guterres
Portuguese Politician
As we face the headwinds of our troubled and turbulent times, let us always be inspired by the legacy of Kofi Annan - and guided by the knowledge that he will continue speaking to us, urging us on toward the goals to which he dedicated his life and truly moved our world.
Quote examples
Michael Spence
American Economist
Developing economies may not have much control over the headwinds that they face today, but that does not mean that they are powerless. Much can be done not just to sustain moderate growth but also to secure a more prosperous and resilient future.
Quote examples
Borje Ekholm
Swedish Businessman
I think we have challenges, but we have so many opportunities to get it right. I like it when we have a little bit of a headwind. The kite actually lifts when you have a headwind and doesn't when there is lift from the back.
Quote examples
Howard Schultz
American Businessman
I do think - as self-serving as it sounds - that I was the right person, given the very, very strong headwind we had from the economy and our own issues, to come back and rewrite the future of the company.
Quote examples
David Plouffe
American Public Servant
We're facing headwinds from Europe. Europe doing the right things here to stabilize their situation is important to our small businesses, our workers, the middle class here, and overall economy.
Quote examples
Mohamed El-Erian
Egyptian Businessman
Investors should be cautiously positioned as the global economy and markets face major uncertainties. The downgrade will be a further headwind to growth and job creation in the U.S.
Quote examples
Henry Paulson
American Public Servant
I happen to think that global slowdown, the slowdown in investment, strengthening dollar probably provide more of a headwind than we get from the decline in oil prices.
Example 1 of 10
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