mist

1 of 2

noun

ˈmist 

1

: water in the form of particles floating or falling in the atmosphere at or near the surface of the earth and approaching the form of rain

2

: something that obscures understanding

mists of antiquity

3

: a film before the eyes

4

a

: a cloud of small particles or objects suggestive of a mist

b

: a suspension of a finely divided liquid in a gas

c

: a fine spray

5

: a drink of liquor served over cracked ice

mist

2 of 2

verb

misted; misting; mists

intransitive verb

1

: to be or become misty

2

: to become moist or blurred

transitive verb

: to cover or spray with or convert to mist

Synonyms

Noun

• drizzle
• mizzle
• sprinkle

Verb

• becloud
• bedim
• befog
• blacken
• blear
• blur
• cloud
• darken
• dim
• dislimn
• fog
• fuzz (up)
• haze
• obscure
• overcast
• overcloud
• overshadow
• shadow
• shroud

Examples of mist in a Sentence

Noun

We could barely see the shore through the mist.

The hills were veiled in a fine mist.

an issue clouded by mists of confusion

Verb

The plant should be misted regularly.

It was misting when we arrived.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Situated at the southern end of the 32-acre palace complex, the al fresco patio looks out into the vastness of the Old City of Hyderabad, and that morning it was shrouded in an ethereal veil of winter mist. —Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Oct. 2024

This mist also incorporates lightweight sunflower seed oil, rich in antioxidants, to protect against environmental stressors like the sun and pollution. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

Some ball clubs have added misting fans and massive ice-water containers for temporary relief, making the experience of going to the game feel a little less like relaxing and a little more like surviving. —Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2024

Provide humidity during dry winter months by misting the plant or placing the pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water. Fertilizer Fertilize plants when active growth resumes in spring, providing a balanced (such as 20-10-20) fertilizer at half strength. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle Dutch mist mist, Greek omichlē

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing mist

• love-in-a-mist
• mist net

Kids Definition

mist

1 of 2 noun

ˈmist 

1

: water in the form of particles floating in the air or falling as fine rain

2

: something that keeps one from seeing or understanding clearly

mist

2 of 2 verb

1

: to be or become misty

2

: to become dim or blurred

3

: to cover with a mist