Windward means facing toward the direction the wind is coming from. If you stand on a hilltop and the breeze blows into your face, you're facing windward. The opposite side, sheltered from the wind, is called leeward.

Sailors pay close attention to windward and leeward because wind direction determines how they position their sails and navigate. A ship sailing to windward moves toward the wind's source, which requires skillful zigzagging called tacking. Islands and coastlines have windward sides that face incoming ocean winds, which can bring rain and storms, while their leeward sides stay drier and calmer.

You might notice windward effects in everyday life: trees on the windward side of a building get hit hardest by winter storms, while trees on the leeward side stay more protected. When hiking in mountains, the windward slopes often have different plants and weather than the sheltered leeward slopes. Understanding windward helps explain why one side of your school playground might be freezing on a windy day while the other side feels noticeably warmer.