lake effect

noun

: a meteorological phenomenon in which warm moist air rising from a body of water mixes with cold dry air overhead resulting in precipitation especially downwind
—usually hyphenated when used attributively
lake-effect snows

Examples of lake effect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sunday could also bring some lake effect snow. — Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026 Doom said this marks the third lake effect event in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026 Recent snowfall is due to an arctic air mass creating lake effect snow from Lake Superior. — La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 29 Jan. 2026 While other records could be set in New York, this storm isn’t expected to contend with the one-day snowfall records set in parts of the state that receive lake effect snowfall. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lake effect

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lake effect was in 1951

Rhymes for lake effect

See All Rhymes for lake effect

Browse Nearby Words

lake dwelling
lake effect
Lake Elsinore
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lake effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lake%20effect. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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