mist

noun \ ˈmist \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of mist

1 : water in the form of particles floating or falling in the atmosphere at or near the surface of the earth and approaching the form of rain

2 : something that obscures understanding

mists of antiquity

3 : a film before the eyes

4 a : a cloud of small particles or objects suggestive of a mist

b : a suspension of a finely divided liquid in a gas

c : a fine spray

5 : a drink of liquor served over cracked ice

See mist defined for English-language learners

See mist defined for kids

Examples of mist in a Sentence

We could barely see the shore through the mist.
The hills were veiled in a fine mist.
an issue clouded by mists of confusion

Recent Examples of mist from the Web

The opposite sides proceed in lockstep until nature intervenes: A tiger from the DMZ (accompanied by some mystical humanoid figures and an ominous mist) maims a solider on either side.

— sharon mizota, latimes.com, "Review: At the Korean DMZ, reunification through one artist's strange lens," 7 July 2018
Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome has been accused of taking so much asthma medicine at last year’s Vuelta a España that the air on his home planet must be albuterol mist.

— marc peruzzi, Outside Online, "Stop Boycotting Pro Cycling," 6 July 2018
Saxons and Britons live together peaceably, protected from memory by a cloud of forgetful mist.

— The Economist, "Brexit is reverberating in British literature," 5 July 2018
Yes, a motorcycle racer had high-sided into the rocks above the tree line and catastrophe-dealing mists were closing in on the summit.

— dan neil, WSJ, "Volkswagen’s All-Electric Effort to Climb Out of Its P.R. Hole," 4 July 2018
Something to do with the whooshing of the waves, the calm blueness of the water, the yielding of sand underfoot, even the smell of the ocean mist.

— ana veciana-suarez, miamiherald, "My happiest memories are one with the sea," 28 June 2018
After cleansing and toning, Skriver reaches for the Avène Thermal Spring Water and mists it all over her face.

— harper's bazaar staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "Victoria's Secret Angel Josephine Skriver's Skin Routine Involves an Otter-Inspired Sheet Mask," 26 June 2018
That scene on the footpath through the aviary where that too-tall shape walks out of the mist?

— emma stefansky, GQ, "The Definitive Jurassic Park Dinosaur Power Rankings," 21 June 2018
Memorial Day in Washington was cloudy, with brief periods of mist and drizzle.

— kevin ambrose, Washington Post, "Touching scenes from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on a cloudy Memorial Day," 29 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of mist

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle Dutch mist mist, Greek omichlē

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

mist Synonyms

Synonyms

fog, haze, murk, reek, smog, soup;

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

mist

verb

Definition of mist

intransitive verb

1 : to be or become misty

2 : to become moist or blurred

transitive verb

: to cover or spray with or convert to mist

See mist defined for English-language learners

Examples of mist in a Sentence

The plant should be misted regularly.
It was misting when we arrived.

Recent Examples of mist from the Web

The city is setting up misting stations along the Parkway and will hand out pallets of bottled water, but Wilson still urged attendees to bring their own water.

— max cohen, Philly.com, "Police address heat, security concerns ahead of July Fourth celebrations," 3 July 2018
Finally, mist your skin with setting spray, like Urban Decay’s limited-edition All-Nighter from the brand's new Born To Run collection, and set your makeup with powder to lock everything in.

— zoë weiner, Teen Vogue, "Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Foundation Is the Most Popular Drugstore Makeup of 2018," 14 June 2018
Firefighters at one point misted the crowd to help people cool off.

— Washington Post, "Protesters flood US cities to fight Trump immigration policy," 1 July 2018
Firefighters at one point misted the crowd to help people cool off.

— author: ellen knickmeyer, Anchorage Daily News, "‘We care’: Family separation protest flood US cities," 30 June 2018
Firefighters at one point misted the crowd to help people cool off.

— CBS News, "Protesters flood U.S. cities to fight Trump immigration policy," 30 June 2018
Firefighters at one point misted the crowd to help people cool off.

— washington post, BostonGlobe.com, "Hundreds of thousands march across US to protest family separation policy," 30 June 2018
Firefighters at one point misted the crowd to help people cool off.

— ellen knickmeyer, Houston Chronicle, "Protesters flood U.S. cities to fight Trump immigration policy," 30 June 2018
Just mist the surface and use a microfiber cloth or squeegee.

— heloise, Houston Chronicle, "Don’t have a blast on the Fourth," 1 July 2018

First Known Use of mist

before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

mist Synonyms

MIST Defined for English Language Learners

mist

noun

Definition of mist for English Language Learners

: water in the form of very small drops floating in the air or falling as rain
: a stream of liquid in the form of very small drops : a fine spray
: something that makes understanding difficult

mist

verb

Definition of mist for English Language Learners

: to become covered with very small drops of water
of a person's eyes : to fill with tears
: to cover (something) with mist

MIST Defined for Kids

mist

noun \ ˈmist \

Definition of mist for Students

: very tiny drops of water floating in the air or falling as fine rain

mist

verb

Definition of mist for Students

misted; misting

1 : to cover or become covered with tiny drops of water

2 : to become wet with tears

Her eyes misted.

3 : to rain very lightly

Learn More about mist

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

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mist

Definition of mist

Examples of mist in a Sentence

Recent Examples of mist from the Web

Origin and Etymology of mist

mist Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

mist

Definition of mist

Examples of mist in a Sentence

Recent Examples of mist from the Web

First Known Use of mist

mist Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to MIST

Related Phrases

MIST Defined for English Language Learners

mist

Definition of mist for English Language Learners

mist

Definition of mist for English Language Learners

MIST Defined for Kids

mist

Definition of mist for Students

mist

Definition of mist for Students

Learn More about mist

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