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
Noun
When the pilot’s plane engine suffers a total electrical shutdown and runs out of fuel, a mysterious pilot (played by Travolta) appears in the mist to guide him to safety. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024 This particular mist—which delivers a sheer, dry-touch formula with natural compression, not aerosol—feels weightless on skin and adds additional protection with vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant to neutralize free-radical damage. Deanna Pai, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2024 As the morning progressed, rays of sunlight began to shine through trees along the edge of the pond, creating spotlights in the morning mist. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024 Areas of fog with a bit of mist are possible through the morning hours as temperatures start in the upper 40s to near 50. Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Other options to consider include hydrating mists, toners, or pre-moistened facial wipes, which can quickly and conveniently refresh the skin without the need for a full wash. Alyssa Hui, Health, 29 Feb. 2024 The mist keeps your makeup locked and loaded all day (or night) long, and the lip liner goes on super smooth for an ultra-pigmented pout. Annie Blackman, Allure, 3 Apr. 2024 Often the romanticized image of the French farm — cows being milked at dawn as the mist rises over undulating pasture — is at some distance from reality. Roger Cohen Ivor Prickett, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024 The Corvette smoked its tires and disappeared into a mist of putrid rubber perfume, as the Prancing Horse very likely blew up its expensive V-12 engine, miserably failing to keep pace with Detroit’s iron-lump. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
Verb
After lightly setting with powder, mist a touch of setting spray onto a damp sponge and gently press over the undereye area. Clare Holden, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2024 Julia Hunt glanced out the window, where the sprinklers misted a rainbow across the South Lawn. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 7 Feb. 2024 Other restoration efforts include the implementation of an anti-fire misting system beneath the cathedral’s roof and the recreation of the original cross. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 The flow was so strong that visitors weren’t just misted by the combination of water and gravity; they were soaked. Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 Instead of blasting your reels and calling them clean, ease back on the hose throttle and give them a light misting or let the water just dribble over them. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Dec. 2023 Therefore, don’t be afraid to mist your petals occasionally to provide some additional hydration, and make sure to change the vase water regularly. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2024 To help control the direction of your hair, the pro recommends misting your brush with a humidity-blocking hairspray such as his Orlando Pita Play Climate Change to keep it smooth. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2023 To increase your tree's lifespan, fill a spray bottle and simply mist your tree all over once per day. Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near mist

Cite this Entry

“Mist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mist. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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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