Illustration of cloud
- 1 cirrus
- 2 cirrostratus
- 3 cirrocumulus
- 4 altostratus
- 5 altocumulus
- 6 stratocumulus
- 7 nimbostratus
- 8 cumulus
- 9 cumulonimbus
- 10 stratus
1
: a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (such as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (such as the earth) or moon
2
: something resembling or suggesting a cloud: such as
a
: a light filmy, puffy, or billowy mass seeming to float in the air
a cloud of blond hair
a ship under a cloud of sail
b(1)
: a usually visible mass of minute particles suspended in the air or a gas
(2)
: an aggregation of usually obscuring matter especially in interstellar space
(3)
: an aggregate of charged particles (such as electrons)
c
: a great crowd or multitude : swarm
clouds of mosquitoes
3
: something that has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect
clouds of war
a cloud of suspicion
4
: something that obscures or blemishes
a cloud of ambiguity
5
: a dark or opaque vein or spot (as in marble or a precious stone)
6
: the computers and connections that support cloud computing
storing files in the cloud
—often used before another nouncloud storage/backup
cloud software
clouded; clouding; clouds
1
: to grow cloudy
—usually used with over or up
clouded over before the storm
2
a
of facial features
: to become troubled, apprehensive, or distressed in appearance
her face clouded with worry
b
: to become blurry, dubious, or ominous
—often used with over
the outlook is clouding over
3
: to billow up in the form of a cloud
1
a
: to envelop or hide with or as if with a cloud
b
: to make opaque especially by condensation of moisture
steam clouded the windows
c
: to make murky especially with smoke or mist
smoke clouded the sky
2
: to make unclear or confused
cloud the issue
4
: to cast gloom over
cloud prospects for success
Synonyms
Examples of cloud in a Sentence
Noun
The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky.
flying high above the clouds
It stopped raining and the sun poked through the clouds.
a cloud of cigarette smoke
The team has been under a cloud since its members were caught cheating.
There's a cloud of controversy hanging over the election.
Verb
greed clouding the minds of men
These new ideas only cloud the issue further.
The final years of her life were clouded by illness.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023
By far the most annoying aspect of this frame is the $39 annual subscription required to upload videos, create albums, access cloud storage (the frame comes with 8 gigabytes of internal storage) and use remote settings.
—Valerie Walsh, wsj.com, 20 Nov. 2023
The bowls and mugs are made with a marbleized blue-and-white clay; the result—organic, full of flow and movement—calls to mind a morning sky streaked with clouds (pieces from $25).
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2023
Overhead, Washington saw patches of blue sky, and a plentiful assortment of clouds.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
In 1984, a cloud of toxic gas escaped from an American pesticide plant in the central Indian city of Bhopal.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Nov. 2023
Shattering the morning calm at SpaceX's Boca Chica launch site on the Texas Gulf Coast, the Super Heavy's 33 methane-burning Raptor engines ignited with a torrent of flame at 8:03 a.m. EST, instantly engulfing the rocket in billowing clouds of dust and steam.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2023
If there’s a woman on your list who seems a little world-weary (or whose toes are known to run cold), treat her to these cashmere pink-ballet slippers that evoke fluffy clouds at dusk.
—Katharine K. Zarrella, WSJ, 16 Nov. 2023
The Super Guppy is actually the third Guppy iteration to lumber through the clouds.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Nov. 2023
Jonel Aleccia, Fortune Well, 7 Nov. 2023
As Claude Monet got older, cataracts began to cloud his vision.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023
This perception, however, has a way of clouding our ability to consider that in some cases, these lovable brawlers are unwelcomed guests.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 25 Oct. 2023
Her record of advocating for labor issues and championing workers’ rights was later clouded by controversy.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2023
But that right now is clouded by a really poor decision that's going to overtake all that good work.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 11 Oct. 2023
The decision for Newsom is clouded by his personal relationship with the late senator.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2023
Three games into a 2023 season clouded by an ongoing university investigation regarding alleged hazing, the University of San Diego’s football team continues to struggle on the field.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023
The grain spat threatening to wipe out goodwill between Poland and Ukraine
But domestic politics have clouded that support.
—Annabelle Chapman, Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2023
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Noun
With a pocket for phones and essentials and a cloud straw cover, going hands-free has never been more chic.
—Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023
By far the most annoying aspect of this frame is the $39 annual subscription required to upload videos, create albums, access cloud storage (the frame comes with 8 gigabytes of internal storage) and use remote settings.
—Valerie Walsh, wsj.com, 20 Nov. 2023
The bowls and mugs are made with a marbleized blue-and-white clay; the result—organic, full of flow and movement—calls to mind a morning sky streaked with clouds (pieces from $25).
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2023
Overhead, Washington saw patches of blue sky, and a plentiful assortment of clouds.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
In 1984, a cloud of toxic gas escaped from an American pesticide plant in the central Indian city of Bhopal.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Nov. 2023
Shattering the morning calm at SpaceX's Boca Chica launch site on the Texas Gulf Coast, the Super Heavy's 33 methane-burning Raptor engines ignited with a torrent of flame at 8:03 a.m. EST, instantly engulfing the rocket in billowing clouds of dust and steam.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2023
If there’s a woman on your list who seems a little world-weary (or whose toes are known to run cold), treat her to these cashmere pink-ballet slippers that evoke fluffy clouds at dusk.
—Katharine K. Zarrella, WSJ, 16 Nov. 2023
The Super Guppy is actually the third Guppy iteration to lumber through the clouds.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Nov. 2023
Verb
And researchers often worry that health complications that can come with obesity will cloud the results of their work.
—Jonel Aleccia, Fortune Well, 7 Nov. 2023
As Claude Monet got older, cataracts began to cloud his vision.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023
This perception, however, has a way of clouding our ability to consider that in some cases, these lovable brawlers are unwelcomed guests.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 25 Oct. 2023
Her record of advocating for labor issues and championing workers’ rights was later clouded by controversy.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2023
But that right now is clouded by a really poor decision that's going to overtake all that good work.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 11 Oct. 2023
The decision for Newsom is clouded by his personal relationship with the late senator.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2023
Three games into a 2023 season clouded by an ongoing university investigation regarding alleged hazing, the University of San Diego’s football team continues to struggle on the field.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023
The grain spat threatening to wipe out goodwill between Poland and Ukraine
But domestic politics have clouded that support.
—Annabelle Chapman, Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cloud.' 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, rock, cloud, from Old English clūd; perhaps akin to Greek gloutos buttock
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1562, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of cloud was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing cloud
Dictionary Entries Near cloud
Cite this Entry
“Cloud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloud. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
cloud
1 of 2 noun1
: a visible mass of particles of water or ice in the form of fog, mist, or haze usually high in the air
2
a
: a usually visible mass of tiny particles in the air or bits of matter between stars
b
: a group of charged particles (as electrons)
3
: something resembling or thought to be like a cloud
a cloud of mosquitoes
under a cloud of suspicion
4
: something that appears dark or threatening
clouds of war
5
: the computers and connections that support cloud computing
storing files in the cloud
cloudless
adjective
-ləs
cloud
2 of 2 verb1
: to make or become cloudy
2
: to darken or hide with or as if by a cloud
smog clouded our view
More from Merriam-Webster on cloud
Nglish: Translation of cloud for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of cloud for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cloud
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