fog

noun \ ˈfȯg , fäg \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of fog

1 a : vapor condensed to fine particles of water suspended in the lower atmosphere that differs from cloud only in being near the ground

b : a fine spray or a foam for firefighting

2 : a murky condition of the atmosphere or a substance causing it

3 a : a state of confusion or bewilderment

spent the morning in a fog

b : something that confuses or obscures

hid behind a fog of rhetoric

4 : cloudiness or partial opacity in a developed photographic image caused by chemical action or stray radiation

—

fogless

play \ˈfȯg-ləs, ˈfäg-\ adjective

See fog defined for English-language learners

See fog defined for kids

Examples of fog in a Sentence

Heavy fog made it difficult to see the road.
a climate marked by heavy fogs
The fog reduced visibility to a quarter of a mile.
This problem has me in a fog.

Recent Examples of fog from the Web

That extra $15,000 gets you some exterior design tweaks, like deeper outboard air intakes, fog lights, and some satin chrome detailing on the front grille.

— eric bangeman, Ars Technica, "A sports car in SUV clothing: The Jaguar E-Pace reviewed," 28 June 2018
The Kia has driver-side damage and is missing a fog light, Montes said.

— stephen ruiz, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Pedestrian in critical condition after hit-and-run crash, FHP says," 13 June 2018
Much of the fighting was hand-to-hand, waged in dense fog and winds of up to 120 mph (193 kph).

— Washington Post, "Bloody but forgotten WWII battle still haunts soldiers," 27 May 2018
Sheets of rain had turned the steep streets of the historic town into rivulets, and the surrounding hilltops were shrouded in a dense, milky fog, known locally as Rousdon Mist.

— david shaftel, New York Times, "Searching for Dinosaurs in a Seaside English Town," 23 May 2018
On Saturday night, a dense fog that shrouded the Pimlico Race Course for the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown was as much a part of the conversation as Justify’s win.

— don markus, baltimoresun.com, "Foggy Preakness run leaves several trainers searching for horses going into final turn," 20 May 2018
In the dense media fog caused by this weekend’s royal wedding über-hype, some of us may have forgotten that Memorial Day is just around the corner.

— madeline fass, Vogue, "Totes, Top Handles, and Pretty Pouches: These Are the Biggest Bag Trends of Summer 2018," 15 May 2018
The height of the cloud base determines which areas, if any, will get dense fog.

— robert krier, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Make way for May gray," 10 May 2018
Patchy, dense fog is moving in as light rain falls and temperatures hover in the upper 30s.

— frank marzullo, Cincinnati.com, "Rain ends tonight, sun returns Monday," 11 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fog.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fog

probably back-formation from foggy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1544

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

fog Synonyms

Synonyms

bafflement, bamboozlement, befuddlement, bemusement, bewilderment, confusedness, confusion, discombobulation, distraction, muddle, mystification, perplexity, puzzlement, tangle, whirl;

Near Antonyms

assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, positiveness, sureness;

agitation, chagrin, discomfort, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturbance, perturbation, upset;

bother, commotion, dither, flurry, fluster, fuss, stew, turmoil;

fog

verb

Definition of fog

fogged; fogging

transitive verb

1 : to cover, envelop, or suffuse with or as if with fog

fog the barns with pesticide

2 : to make obscure or confusing

accusations which fogged the real issues

3 : to make confused

4 : to produce fog on (something, such as a photographic film) during development

intransitive verb

1 : to become covered or thick with fog

2 a : to become blurred by a covering of fog or mist

b : to become indistinct through exposure to light or radiation

See fog defined for English-language learners

Examples of fog in a Sentence

The steam from the pot was fogging the window near the stove.
The bathroom was all fogged up after my shower.
politicians who try to fog the issue instead of taking a stand

Recent Examples of fog from the Web

The Wildcat webcam late Monday afternoon was fogged in, with just a few trees showing in the foreground.

— katie camero, BostonGlobe.com, "Here’s a cool thought: There’s still snow on Mount Washington," 2 July 2018
Instead, Jurassic Park featured the raptors fogging a kitchen window with their breath before opening the kitchen door — something only warm-blooded animals could do.

— alessandra potenza, The Verge, "Were real dinosaurs as bulletproof as the one in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom?," 19 June 2018
Read More Worker saw a 'fogged up' car in a parking lot.

— kaitlyn schwers, kansascity, "They left 13 dogs in a hot car for hours, Missouri cops say. Now they face charges," 31 May 2018
The family hiked up and skied above the lift line, the sandwiches in their pockets fogging the cellophane.

— naomi fry, The New Yorker, "Rachel Kushner’s Immersive Fiction," 23 Apr. 2018
After a short time, Mr. Garment said, an officer noticed that Mr. Pritchett was not breathing and the mask had fogged up.

— ashley southall and nate schweber, New York Times, "Police Investigate Officers’ Actions in the Death of a Bronx Man in Custody," 29 Jan. 2018
Once again, riders waited a long time in a car fogged with smoke or dust before anyone evacuated them.

— fredrick kunkle, Washington Post, "Metro riders have adjusted after years of subway troubles: They expect the worst," 17 Jan. 2018
The conversation largely ping-ponged between the two pairs of friends and me, our breath fogging up the safety glass keeping the cold air out.

— ryan smith, Chicago Reader, "Apropos of Nothing / Narcissism / Seriously? / News 'Spinning Singles' search for love atop a Ferris wheel—in 12 minutes or less," 9 Mar. 2018
In a final gesture, Mr. Wang separates this and other contemporary responses from early bronzes in an adjacent gallery with a glass partition—transparent but fogged.

— lee lawrence, WSJ, "‘Mirroring China’s Past: Emperors and Their Bronzes’ Review: Magnificent Metal," 5 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of fog

circa 1592

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

fog Synonyms

FOG Defined for English Language Learners

fog

noun

Definition of fog for English Language Learners

: many small drops of water floating in the air above the ground, the sea, etc.
: a state of mental confusion

fog

verb

Definition of fog for English Language Learners

: to cover or fill (something) with small drops of water : to make (something) foggy
: to become foggy
: to make (someone or something) confused

FOG Defined for Kids

fog

noun \ ˈfȯg , ˈfäg \

Definition of fog for Students

1 : tiny drops of water floating in the air at or near the ground

2 : a confused state of mind

I woke up in a fog.

fog

verb

Definition of fog for Students

fogged; fogging

: to cover or become covered with tiny drops of water Steam from the shower fogged the mirror.

Medical Dictionary

fog

transitive verb \ ˈfäg, ˈfȯg \

medical Definition of fog

fogged; fogging

: to blur (a visual field) with lenses that prevent a sharp focus in order to relax accommodation before testing vision

Learn More about fog

See words that rhyme with fog Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fog Spanish Central: Translation of fog Nglish: Translation of fog for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fog for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fog

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fog

Definition of fog

fogless

Examples of fog in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fog from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fog

fog Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

fog

Definition of fog

Examples of fog in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fog from the Web

First Known Use of fog

fog Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

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Related Phrases

FOG Defined for English Language Learners

fog

Definition of fog for English Language Learners

fog

Definition of fog for English Language Learners

FOG Defined for Kids

fog

Definition of fog for Students

fog

Definition of fog for Students

Medical Dictionary

fog

medical Definition of fog

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