mood

1 of 2

noun (1)

1
: a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion : feeling
He's been in a good mood all week.
also : the expression of mood especially in art or literature
2
archaic : a fit of anger : rage
3
a
: a prevailing attitude
the kind of mood that fostered the Salem witch trialsNat Hentoff
b
: a receptive state of mind predisposing to action
was not in a giving mood at the time
c
: a distinctive atmosphere or context : aura
the weary city's sullen moodMarilyn Stasio
the mood is quiet and sleepy, as guests pick blueberries and read by the pondJ. O. Nixon

mood

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: the form of a syllogism as determined by the quantity and quality of its constituent propositions
2
: distinction of form or a particular set of inflectional forms of a verb to express whether the action or state it denotes is conceived as fact or in some other manner (such as command, possibility, or wish)
3

Examples of mood in a Sentence

Noun (1) losing my favorite sweater left me in a bad mood for the rest of the day there's a haunting mood of melancholy about the ruined old castle in his mood, the king spared no one his venomous tongue
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
The tumult of the window and the team’s start to the season exacerbated the mood. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025 From chocolate brown for a subtle upgrade to neutrals, to burgundy and olive green for an instant pop of color, there’s a shade (or two…or eight) for every mood and itinerary. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025 The craft involves manipulating color to create a specific mood, visual style or narrative theme and is widely-used across film, TV and music. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025 Each room is designed in one of four colors—red, blue, green, or yellow—allowing guests to choose their mood. Okla Jones, Essence, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mood

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English mōd; akin to Old High German muot mood

Noun (2)

alteration of mode entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Mood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mood. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

mood

1 of 2 noun
1
: an emotional state of mind or feeling
also : the feeling expressed in a work of art or literature
2
: a dominant attitude or spirit
the mood of the country was optimistic
3
: a distinctive atmosphere or context
the dark mood of the movie

mood

2 of 2 noun
: a set of forms of a verb that show whether the action or state expressed is to be thought of as a fact, a command, or a wish or possibility
Etymology

Noun

Old English mōd "a state of mind"

Noun

an altered form of mode

Medical Definition

mood

noun
: a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion : affective state : feeling sense 3

More from Merriam-Webster on mood

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