fog

noun \ ˈfȯg , fäg \

Updated on: 15 May 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

While Syria might be suffering the fog of war, elsewhere Israel sees a surprising array of clearsighted neighbors and allies, creating favorable conditions to act.

— oren liebermann, CNN, "Analysis: Iran and Israel draw closer to war than ever," 30 Apr. 2018
Wherever the action is supposed to be set seemingly comes equipped with a lot of fog, clouds and full moons, which come in handy.

— bill goodykoontz, azcentral, "Bel Powley is terrific in flawed, fascinating horror movie 'Wildling'," 26 Apr. 2018
Early-morning drivers should watch for dense fog, the National Weather Service warned Thursday.

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Weather Service: Watch For Fog Early Thursday," 26 Apr. 2018
Machines spray mist and rain droplets, a mix of pinpoint and wall fans can churn up a windstorm and other devices fill the auditorium with fog, bubbles and snow-like suds.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Cinépolis offers discount 'magic hour' at North County theaters," 25 Apr. 2018
Its cameras would be able to see heat signatures through fog, a feat that's difficult for human eyes.

— sarah gibbens, National Geographic, "How Do You Protect Endangered Animals at Night? Ask an Astrophysicist.," 6 Apr. 2018
The National Weather Service is forecasting a 30 percent chance of showers and patchy fog, with a greater chance of precipitation after the game.

— baltimoresun.com, "What you need to know about Orioles' Opening Day at Camden Yards," 29 Mar. 2018
Montgomery descended into a fog after Kendall Murphy’s death.

— kyle neddenriep, Indianapolis Star, "How IHSAA basketball tournament run lifts entire small Indiana town," 15 Mar. 2018
But fog, rain, smoke and dust throw these tools off by scattering light and radio waves.

— prachi patel, Scientific American, "Seeing the Unseen: New, Low-Cost Technique Tracks Objects Hidden by Fog," 1 Sep. 2017

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 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
As popular as this window-fogging franchise has become, its flaccid finale is likely critic proof.

— jeannette catsoulis, New York Times, "Review: Finally, the Audience Is ‘Fifty Shades Freed’," 8 Feb. 2018
In fact all of their glasses, for reasons Ken couldn’t explain, had fogged up.

— justin quarry, Longreads, "The Handgun and the Haunted Range," 26 Jan. 2018
Eventually, the membrane will fog, causing a larger blemish.

— mike allen, Popular Mechanics, "How to Repair Your Cracked Windshield," 9 Jan. 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

Phrases Related to FOG

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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