wistful

adjective

wist·​ful ˈwist-fəl 

1

: full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy

also : inspiring such yearning

a wistful memoir

2

: musingly sad : pensive

a wistful glance

wistfully

ˈwist-fə-lē 

adverb

wistfulness noun

Did you know?

Wistful Has a Wishful History

We see you there, dear reader, gazing silently up at the moon, heart aching to know the history of wistful, as if it could be divined on the lunar surface. And we'd like to ease your melancholy by telling you that the knowledge you seek—nay, pine for—is closer at hand. The word wistful comes from wistly, a now-obsolete word meaning "intently," and the similar-sounding wishful. Wistly, in turn, likely comes from whist, an old term meaning "silent." What's more certain is that our modern wistful is a great word to describe someone full of pensive yearning, or something inspiring such yearning.

Examples of wistful in a Sentence

She was wistful for a moment, then asked, “Do you remember the old playground?”.

He had a wistful look on his face.

Recent Examples on the Web

Swelling with wistful reflection and the diary-like energy she’s known for, her words evoke struggle but also strength, which is surely inspiring for her most loyal listeners, many of whom are navigating the same wins and losses of growing up. — Lina Lecaro, SPIN, 20 July 2026

Capturing all the emotions wrapped up in growing pains, embracing the future and longing for what was, Oseman delivers a wistful conclusion to Nick and Charlie’s story. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 July 2026

The wistful ballad showcased Ronstadt’s powerhouse range, culminating in a breathtaking final note. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026

Henery and Alex Dow’s guitar riffs steal the show, supporting his words through a wistful, heavy bridge. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

blend of wishful and obsolete English wistly intently

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wistful

• fistful

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Kids Definition

wistful

adjective

wist·​ful ˈwist-fəl 

: feeling or showing a timid desire

a wistful look on his face

wistfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

wistfulness noun