mist

1 of 2

noun

ˈmist 

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

mist

2 of 2

verb

misted; misting; mists

intransitive verb

1

: to be or become misty

—usually used with up

My glasses mist up.

2

: to become moist or blurred

—usually used with up or over

eyes misting over

3

: to rain very lightly

transitive verb

: to cover or spray with or convert to mist

a misted valley

misting plants

Synonyms of mist

Noun

• rainfall
• sprinkle
• drizzle
• precipitation

Verb

• obscure
• blur
• darken
• fog
• cloud
• haze

Examples of mist in a Sentence

Noun

We could barely see the shore through the mist.

The hills were veiled in a fine mist.

an issue clouded by mists of confusion

Verb

The plant should be misted regularly.

It was misting when we arrived.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Popular in the wellness community, homemade rosemary brews are used for everything from hair rinses to facial mists and to jazz up one's hydration intake. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 13 Apr. 2026

All while breathing in mists through a nebulizer to open airways and loosen phlegm. —Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026

Verb

Multi-setting showerheads, like most of those made today, have a wide array of choices to select from, ranging from powerful, massaging force to gentle rain and rinsing or even misting. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026

Consider a misting device or a drop fountain. —James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing mist

• love-in-a-mist
• mist net

Rhymes for mist

• cist
• cyst
• fist
• gist
• grist
• hissed
• kissed
• kist
• list
• missed
• schist
• tryst

Kids Definition

mist

1 of 2 noun

ˈmist 

1

: water in the form of particles floating in the air or falling as fine rain

2

: something that keeps one from seeing or understanding clearly

mist

2 of 2 verb

1

: to be or become misty

2

: to become dim or blurred

3

: to cover with a mist