Sign In Get Started
Prepositions with nouns

Prepositions used with wind

Wind combines with several prepositions depending on whether you describe cause, movement, purpose, or comparison.

Quick answer

Common combinations with wind

Use by the wind for movement or force, with the wind for accompanying conditions or direction, and wind of change for figurative meaning. For wind is less common and usually appears in technical contexts such as energy for wind turbines.

The leaves were carried by the wind.
They sailed with the wind behind them.
People spoke of strong winds near the coast.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
by the wind

Cause of movement

Use by the wind when wind causes something to move.

The door slammed by the wind.
The seeds were scattered by the wind.
2
with the wind

Movement in the same direction

Use with the wind for travel or motion following the wind.

The boat drifted with the wind.
Smoke moved with the wind across the valley.
3
wind of + noun

Figurative description

Use wind of in fixed expressions such as wind of change.

A wind of change swept through the company.
They sensed a wind of optimism in the city.
4
as wind

Comparison or role

As wind appears mainly in scientific or descriptive comparisons.

The force acts as wind against the structure.
The gas escaped as wind through the opening.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
of wind
the sound of wind in the trees
Describes something related to wind.
with wind
The sky darkened with wind and rain.
Accompanying weather or direction.
by wind
The fire spread by wind.
Cause or means; more often by the wind.
for wind
Engineers designed blades for wind turbines.
Purpose or intended use.
as wind
The pressure was measured as wind force.
Role, form, or comparison.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Missing article after by

By wind is possible in technical style, but everyday English often uses by the wind.

✕ The kite was blown by wind. ✓ The kite was blown by the wind.

Using for wind as a general location phrase

For wind usually expresses purpose, not location or cause.

✕ The trees moved for wind. ✓ The trees moved in the wind.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The umbrella turned inside out ___ the wind.
2. The birds flew ___ the wind.
3. A wind ___ change was felt across the country.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is by wind correct?

Yes, especially in technical language, but everyday English often says by the wind.

What does with the wind mean?

It usually means moving in the same direction as the wind.

Can as wind be used naturally?

Yes, but mostly in scientific, technical, or literary contexts.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account