mood board

noun

variants or less commonly moodboard
plural mood boards also moodboards
: a collection of objects, images, etc. that is assembled often on a flat surface and used as inspiration for something (such as a design or goal)
Anna Sui treats her mood boards a bit like shrines. A focal point in her new studio …, four separate panels, each bordered in a trompe l'oeil Art Nouveau frame, set off photographs, fabric swatches and illustrations by Mary Blair …Ruth La Ferla
Oftentimes clients give him a lot of creative freedom, he said, because they like the style of other projects he has done. He will then create a mood board, with images and phrases to inspire his creation.Rachel Spacek
The producer came to London to my house to have a meeting with me. They brought me the script and this strange kind of moodboard with pictures and drawings …Noomi Rapace, quoted at yahoo.com

Examples of mood board in a Sentence

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 slightly Gothic undertones are inspiring our fall mood boards. Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2025 Renovating well is a combination of being a great improviser and a tough cookie—yet another reason why having a great mood board up front helps. Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025 Back at school, the students worked in small groups to come up with mood boards, color palettes and general themes for their designs. Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2025 From venue visits to sharing hints on her bridal mood board, followers have been eating up the content. Tabitha Parent, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mood board

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mood board was in 1985

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mood board.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mood%20board. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!