mist

1 of 2

noun

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

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
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.
Noun
Dove is expanding into the body mist market. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025 Momcozy recognizes these concerns and has prioritized safety with the nasal aspirator’s 6-second auto mist-off feature, thereby only producing as much mist as is needed to gently loosen and remove mucus without causing the baby discomfort or harm. Ethan Stone, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
The very air, suddenly, was misted with pornography. Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 For wet methods, the brand recommends mixing one part fabric softener with three parts water in a spray bottle and misting the interior before wiping with a dry cloth. Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mist

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mist was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mist. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

mist

1 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on mist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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