Partly Cloudy: Meaning and Usage in Weather

Meaning 1：partly cloudy (Partly cloudy)

Partly cloudy 🔊

/ˈpɑːrtli ˈklaʊdi/

adj.

A weather description meaning the sky has both blue areas and some clouds, but the sun is still visible most of the time.

partly cloudy 🔊

➕

/ˈpɑːrtli ˈklaʊdi/

adj.

A weather condition where the sky is partially covered by clouds, allowing sunlight to come through occasionally.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

'Partly' from 'part' + '-ly', 'cloudy' from 'cloud' + '-y'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a blue sky with scattered cotton balls: that's partly cloudy!

📖 Example

Check the weather app - it says partly cloudy for our hike, so we might not need the umbrella. 🔊 Check the weather app - it says partly cloudy for our hike, so we might not need the umbrella.

🔗 Collocations

partly cloudy sky – a sky with partial cloud cover

partly cloudy forecast – weather report indicating mixed sun and clouds

partly cloudy weather – weather condition with scattered clouds

🔄 Synonyms

partly sunny (adj.) – Describes weather with more sun than clouds, often used interchangeably with partly cloudy.

scattered clouds (n.) – Clouds that are spread out, leaving large areas of blue sky.

🚫 Antonyms

clear (adj.) – Sky without any clouds.

overcast (adj.) – Sky completely covered by clouds, no direct sunlight.

📖 Cultural Story

Partly cloudy is a standard meteorological term for sky with 3/8 to 5/8 cloud cover. It's widely used in weather forecasts.