humid

adjective

hu·​mid ˈhyü-məd How to pronounce humid (audio)
ˈyü-
: containing or characterized by perceptible moisture especially to the point of being oppressive
humidly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for humid

wet, damp, dank, moist, humid mean covered or more or less soaked with liquid.

wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (such as paint) not yet dry.

slipped on the wet pavement

damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture.

clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

Examples of humid in a Sentence

the air was so humid that our beach towels hanging on the line never really got dry
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The hot and humid weather is expected to persist through the weekend, with temperatures in the low 90s and heat index values ranging from the 90s to the low 100s on Saturday and Sunday. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025 Millions of Americans were urged to stay indoors Friday as hot and humid conditions were expected to blanket large portions of the U.S. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued heat advisories across some 13 states, while an extreme heat warning was in effect for southern Arizona. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 Summer is hot, humid, and begging for a cool drink to stave off the scaries. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 June 2025 However, this process is much slower in humid environments. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for humid

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French humide, from Latin humidus, from humēre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of humid was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humid. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

humid

adjective
hu·​mid ˈhyü-məd How to pronounce humid (audio)
ˈyü-
: damp entry 3, moist
a humid climate
humidly adverb

Medical Definition

humid

adjective
hu·​mid ˈhyü-məd How to pronounce humid (audio) ˈyü- How to pronounce humid (audio)
: containing or characterized by perceptible moisture especially to the point of being oppressive
a hot humid climate

More from Merriam-Webster on humid

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