fog

1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯg How to pronounce fog (audio)
fäg
1
a
: vapor condensed to fine particles of water suspended in the lower atmosphere that differs from cloud only in being near the ground
b
: a fine spray or a foam for firefighting
2
: a murky condition of the atmosphere or a substance causing it
3
a
: a state of confusion or bewilderment
spent the morning in a fog
b
: something that confuses or obscures
hid behind a fog of rhetoric
4
: cloudiness or partial opacity in a developed photographic image caused by chemical action or stray radiation
fogless
ˈfȯg-ləs How to pronounce fog (audio)
ˈfäg-
adjective

fog

2 of 2

verb

fogged; fogging

transitive verb

1
: to cover, envelop, or suffuse with or as if with fog
fog the barns with pesticide
2
: to make obscure or confusing
accusations which fogged the real issues
3
: to make confused
4
: to produce fog on (something, such as a photographic film) during development

intransitive verb

1
: to become covered or thick with fog
2
a
: to become blurred by a covering of fog or mist
b
: to become indistinct through exposure to light or radiation

Examples of fog in a Sentence

Noun Heavy fog made it difficult to see the road. a climate marked by heavy fogs The fog reduced visibility to a quarter of a mile. This problem has me in a fog. Verb The steam from the pot was fogging the window near the stove. The bathroom was all fogged up after my shower. politicians who try to fog the issue instead of taking a stand
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Saturday will begin with a thick marine layer along the entire coastline and possibly patches of fog in some areas. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024 Meanwhile, at the flat center of the region, valley floor fruit is the recipient of generous sunlight and a steady cycle of morning fog and cool breezes from San Pablo Bay and constant flow of warmer air from San Joaquin Valley to the east. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024 Sudden fog, bad luck and the vessel’s own captain doomed the steamship Milwaukee, experts say. Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2024 Keep reading for the forecast into next week… Tomorrow (Saturday): Patchy fog remains possible. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 The best time to collect the bodies is in bad weather, with fog and rain, Mr. Yukov said, because Russian drones don’t fly in it. Tyler Hicks Marc Santora, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Rain pierced the fog in the quiet Baltimore Harbor as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stood on the bow of a Coast Guard cutter, flanked by other grim-faced politicians approaching the twisted remains of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Erin Cox, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024 By the time the fog had parted, the ships were set to collide. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024 The Hickox appeared out of the fog and slammed into the side of the Milwaukee, the group said. Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2024
Verb
Worthy and longtime Lakers athletic trainer Gary Vitti met with a sunglasses manufacturer who designed goggles that didn’t fog up or cause skin abrasions. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024 That fogs the lens of how the season and its finish is viewed. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024 She could be plunged into early menopause, her brain could fog like a dark winter’s night, her mouth could be full of ulcers, her fingernails may even fall out. Chloe Fox, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2024 But Kerry Abbott noticed condensation fogging the windows — a sign someone might be inside. Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 Advertisement Newsom, whose responsibilities go beyond that of lieutenant governor — which are, essentially, fogging a mirror and sitting on various boards and commissions — took a more reasoned and responsible approach. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2023 The turmoil from the attack fogged Meg’s ability to speed past the drama, as social media often poked fun at her and, in some cases, took Lanez’s side in the public drama. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 7 Feb. 2024 Our camera instantly fogged up and the concrete walls and arches beaded sweat. Matt Gutman, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2024 Beyond that, this helmet is also quite lightweight, warm, and ventilated to keep little ones’ heads from sweating and goggles from fogging up. Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fog.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably back-formation from foggy

First Known Use

Noun

1544, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fog was in 1544

Dictionary Entries Near fog

Cite this Entry

“Fog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fog. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

fog

1 of 2 noun
ˈfȯg How to pronounce fog (audio)
ˈfäg
1
a
: fine particles of water floating in the atmosphere near the ground
b
: a fine spray or a foam for firefighting
2
: a gloomy condition of the atmosphere or a substance causing it
3
: a state of mental confusion
spent the morning in a fog

fog

2 of 2 verb
fogged; fogging
1
: to cover or become covered with or as if with fog
2
: to make confused

Medical Definition

fog

transitive verb
fogged; fogging
: to blur (a visual field) with lenses that prevent a sharp focus in order to relax accommodation before testing vision

More from Merriam-Webster on fog

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!