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

In fact, the mist is composed of just two ingredients: thermal spring water and nitrogen. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024

Rael Oil Control Mist Like a green juice for your face, this mist delivers an instant boost of essential hydration for all day comfort, unlike conventional sprays that can leave your skin tightened and dried out. —Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Verb

Post-Seeding Care If rain or snow is not expected after sowing, lightly mist the area (about 0.10 inches of water) to settle the seed into the soil. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2024

Zoom in: This first phase repaired and preserved the original architecture while adding features, including a digital misting system and lighting for evening displays. —Kate Murphy, Axios, 26 Nov. 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