mist

1 of 2

noun

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
2
: to become moist or blurred

transitive verb

: to cover or spray with or convert to mist

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
This sheer mist keeps static away and has an odor neutralizer that keeps all other scents at bay. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024 Best Air Freshener: Febreze Mood Collection Air Mist A wider, lighter mist leaves spaces feeling fresh, and the aroma isn't too overpowering. Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2024 The long arc of time, the view through history's magical mists, from its Russian peaks, across the endless landmass, acts as inspiration and intoxication to his audience. Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024 Orion enjoyed mist from a hose, which mimicked his original Alaskan habitat, according to a Montgomery Parks video. Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 The warmed mist can disperse more easily than cool mist, covering a larger area more quickly. Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2024 This cool mist humidifier hydrates the air in rooms up to 500 square feet, complete with a 500-milliliter tank that allows the device to run for up to 24 hours before needing to be refilled. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024 Even from a few miles away, the death rattle of another Ukrainian city echoed through the mist and fog. Marc Santora Tyler Hicks, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Luckily, the label also offers the alluring scent in a lightweight hair mist—led by two types of roses, damascena and centifolia, rounded out by lychee and ambroxan. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2024
Verb
Other restoration efforts include the implementation of an anti-fire misting system beneath the cathedral’s roof and the recreation of the original cross. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 The flow was so strong that visitors weren’t just misted by the combination of water and gravity; they were soaked. Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 Instead of blasting your reels and calling them clean, ease back on the hose throttle and give them a light misting or let the water just dribble over them. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Dec. 2023 Therefore, don’t be afraid to mist your petals occasionally to provide some additional hydration, and make sure to change the vase water regularly. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2024 To help control the direction of your hair, the pro recommends misting your brush with a humidity-blocking hairspray such as his Orlando Pita Play Climate Change to keep it smooth. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2023 To increase your tree's lifespan, fill a spray bottle and simply mist your tree all over once per day. Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023 Six days a week, Mr. Sawan, 55, a father of five, tows batches of fruit that weigh 1,500 pounds to a nearby processing plant, often as planes buzz overhead, misting down pesticides. Peter S. Goodman Jes Aznar, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2023 In its obvious gloom, Sunday in Washington also demonstrated atmospheric versatility, as mist misted, fog formed and rain fell, sometimes all at once. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mist.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mist was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near mist

Cite this Entry

“Mist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mist. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mist

1 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on mist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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