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 trials—
Nat Hentoff
Nat 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 mood—Marilyn Stasio
Marilyn Stasiothe mood is quiet and sleepy, as guests pick blueberries and read by the pond—J. O. Nixon
J. O. Nixon1
: 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
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
This is the perfect time of year to slip into an ultra-soft flannel set or pick out a playful print that sets the holiday mood.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2025
Four defeats on the spin have not improved Silva’s mood, especially as injuries stretch his squad further.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
The series of films, based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe, reached its creative high point with this proto-psychedelic fairy tale, whose bright colors and delirious mood predicted a groovy art movement that was then just around the corner.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mood
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Noun
Still, the prevailing mood of the city is to stay away – or at least be cautious.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
This is the perfect time of year to slip into an ultra-soft flannel set or pick out a playful print that sets the holiday mood.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2025
Four defeats on the spin have not improved Silva’s mood, especially as injuries stretch his squad further.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
The series of films, based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe, reached its creative high point with this proto-psychedelic fairy tale, whose bright colors and delirious mood predicted a groovy art movement that was then just around the corner.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mood
Cite this Entry
“Mood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mood. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mood
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
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