moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet : not completely dry

plants that prefer constantly moist soil

I love cookies when they are moist and chewy.

2

: tearful

The eyes of both of us … were moist with the joy of success.

—Jack London

3

: characterized by high humidity

Fog is formed when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.

moistly adverb

moistness

ˈmȯis(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of moist

• damp

Choose the Right Synonym for moist

wet, damp, dank, moist, humid mean covered or more or less soaked with liquid.

wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (such as paint) not yet dry.

slipped on the wet pavement

damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture.

clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

Examples of moist in a Sentence

I love cookies when they are moist and chewy.

The pork chops were tender and moist.

a moist and spongy chocolate cake

The plant grows best in direct sunlight and with rich, moist soil.

She dabbed her moist eyes with a handkerchief.

Fog is formed when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.

The eggs will hatch sooner in warm, moist conditions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Just like zucchini bread, zucchini in cake is moist and unexpectedly tasty. — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

This is a classic springtime dessert made with tangy cream cheese frosting and two layers of dense, moist cake made with plenty of grated carrot for texture and flavor. — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026

While dry conditions drive up temperatures dramatically, moist air keeps them a bit lower but makes the heat feel worse to humans. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026

And overall, rain and thunderstorms should expand in coverage across much of the eastern half of the nation this weekend within the very warm, moist and unstable air mass, the weather service said. — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English moiste, from Anglo-French, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *muscidus, alteration of Latin mucidus slimy, from mucus nasal mucus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for moist

• foist
• hoist
• joist
• voiced
• invoiced
• rejoiced
• unvoiced

Kids Definition

moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet

moist earth

2

: characterized by high humidity

moistly adverb

moistness

ˈmȯis(t)-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet

2

a

: marked by a discharge or exudation of liquid

moist eczema

b

: suggestive of the presence of liquid

—used of sounds heard in auscultation

moist rales