moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet : damp

I love cookies when they are moist and chewy.

2

: tearful

the eyes of both of us … were moist with the joy of success

—Jack London

3

: characterized by high humidity

Fog is formed when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.

moistly adverb

moistness

ˈmȯis(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• damp
• dampish
• dank
• wettish

Choose the Right Synonym for moist

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 moist in a Sentence

I love cookies when they are moist and chewy.

The pork chops were tender and moist.

a moist and spongy chocolate cake

The plant grows best in direct sunlight and with rich, moist soil.

She dabbed her moist eyes with a handkerchief.

Fog is formed when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.

The eggs will hatch sooner in warm, moist conditions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Give it a cool, partly sunny spot in the Southern garden, and water to keep the soil moist. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024

In summer, water daily to keep the soil moist so plants don’t wilt. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

The air is warm, the smell of bright Florida sunshine on moist soil still lingering. —Jen Guyton, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

The idea is to make sure the fields are never bare, increasing soil fertility, limiting runoff and keeping the soil moist. —Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024

Vegetation at lower elevations is moist and green; in the high country, it’s buried in snow. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024

People even make observations about how dry or moist the soil looks. —Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2024

Our Parmesan Crusted Chicken combines the cheese with breadcrumbs for crunch. Substitutes That Act As A Binder For an ingredient that's stirred into something like meatloaf, hamburger meat, or a moist casserole, there are several alternatives. —Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2024

Grass helps keep the soil moist and the mix of plants discourages pest outbreaks. —Aniruddha Ghosal, Fortune Asia, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English moiste, from Anglo-French, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *muscidus, alteration of Latin mucidus slimy, from mucus nasal mucus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet

moist earth

2

: characterized by high humidity

moistly adverb

moistness

ˈmȯis(t)-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet

2

a

: marked by a discharge or exudation of liquid

moist eczema

b

: suggestive of the presence of liquid

—used of sounds heard in auscultation

moist rales