fog

1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯg How to pronounce fog (audio)
fäg
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
ˈfȯg-ləs How to pronounce fog (audio)
ˈfäg-
adjective

fog

2 of 2

verb

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

Example Sentences

Noun 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. Verb 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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Berkeley and Oakland could have patchy fog Tuesday morning. Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 May 2023 In some communities where water must be trucked in, simple contraptions of plastic or steel mesh called fog catchers have enabled agricultural and reforestation projects. Maggie Shipstead Anthony Cotsifas, New York Times, 10 May 2023 Early patchy fog should burn off by midmorning and reveal in-and-out sunshine. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 7 May 2023 On Tuesday, forecasts called for patchy fog with looming clouds and a chance for isolated showers or thunderstorms west of Del Rio, while Wednesday could see better rain chances along the Rio Grande not but in San Antonio. Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 2 May 2023 Though not as common, riders across the country have also left behind more unique possessions like a Danny DeVito Christmas ornament, an ankle monitor, a lightsaber, a Tamagotchi, a fog machine, and even a real-life pet dog and a pair of turtles. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2023 Although the primary image of the Evergreen State is the rain and fog of Seattle and Puget Sound, the vast majority of wine made here is from the arid region east of the Cascade Mountains. Mike Desimone And Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2023 Search-and-rescue efforts soon transformed into a search-and-recovery mission, though one hampered by thick fog that rendered helicopters useless. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2023 Dense fog also set in along the highway near Eklutna Friday, which added to the dangerous driving conditions, the National Weather Service said. Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Feb. 2023
Verb
Enlarge / Eddie Robles drives a Maricopa County Vector Control fogging truck through a neighborhood August 4, 2004, in Tempe, Arizona. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 27 Apr. 2023 Bhamla and Challita say that similar methods of superpropulsion could one day help wearable devices such as smartwatches remove moisture or prevent droplets from fogging up glasses. Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 28 Feb. 2023 The shield appeared to fog up at times. Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 11 Sep. 2020 Inglewood’s Friday night Southern Section Division 2 semifinal against West Hills Chaminade went so late that even the smallest breath turned to fog in the dead-of-night cold at South Torrance High, the Sentinels and Eagles trading back-and-forth blows in an instant playoff overtime classic. Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2022 When it is not being used to fog up rock concerts, it’s often used to keep perishables cool during shipping. Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 15 Feb. 2022 Dressed in all black, the Spy Kids alum portrays Trainor's chauffeur, as well as a fan whose glasses fog up just at the sight of the pop star. Robin Raven, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2023 That snow can pile up and clog your vents, causing your goggles to fog. Leslie Hsu Oh, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2023 Additionally, the fans don’t cool as expected; people overheat and faceplates fog. Kate Greene, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2013 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fog.' 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

probably back-formation from foggy

First Known Use

Noun

1544, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fog was in 1544

Dictionary Entries Near fog

Cite this Entry

“Fog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fog. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

fog

1 of 2 noun
ˈfȯg How to pronounce fog (audio)
ˈfäg
1
a
: fine particles of water floating in the atmosphere near the ground
b
: a fine spray or a foam for firefighting
2
: a gloomy condition of the atmosphere or a substance causing it
3
: a state of mental confusion
spent the morning in a fog

fog

2 of 2 verb
fogged; fogging
1
: to cover or become covered with or as if with fog
2
: to make confused

Medical Definition

fog

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

More from Merriam-Webster on fog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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