WordGarden.iocloudy
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /klˈaʊdi/
US
- /ˈklaʊdi/
Meanings
Adjective
covered with clouds or having many clouds
not clear or transparent; murky
unclear, confused, or uncertain
More meaningsFewer meanings
gloomy or troubled in mood or expression
Beyond the definition
When the sky is cloudy, it's covered in clouds—not necessarily rainy, just full of them! Think of a cozy day where the sun is hidden behind a blanket of gray. But "cloudy" isn't always about weather. You can also have cloudy thinking, meaning you feel confused or unclear. A cloudy memory might be one you don't quite remember clearly, like a dream slowly fading away.
Sometimes, people describe liquids as cloudy—think of apple juice with pulp or muddy river water. It means the liquid is not clear or transparent. So, next time you look up at the sky or try to recall a distant event, remember that "cloudy" can mean obscured, unclear, or simply full of clouds!
The word "cloudy" most commonly describes a sky covered with clouds, obscuring the sun or stars. It evokes images of gray skies and potentially damp weather. You might say, "A cloudy day is perfect for staying inside with a good book," or "The forecast predicts a cloudy week ahead."
However, "cloudy" extends far beyond meteorology. It describes anything lacking clarity or transparency. A glass of water might be cloudy if it contains sediment, meaning you can't see through it easily. Similarly, "cloudy thinking" refers to a lack of mental sharpness—a feeling as if your thoughts are obscured by a thick fog.
"Cloudy" also relates to the way we process the past. If a memory is "cloudy," it is vague, indistinct, and difficult to recall with precision. It's as if the details have been softened or blurred by the passage of time. You might remark, "My earliest childhood memories are rather cloudy."
Finally, in certain contexts, "cloudy" can describe a person's eyes or expression. Cloudy eyes may appear milkier or less bright than usual, often due to age or illness. Whether it's the sky above, a glass of juice, your internal thoughts, or a distant memory, "cloudy" signals a lack of clarity and a sense of being veiled from view.
Examples
- 1
Beach weather
The beach was quiet because the sky stayed cloudy all day.
- 2
Weather change
It started sunny, but by lunchtime it had turned cloudy.
- 3
Forecast
The weather report says it will be cloudy with light rain this evening.
- 4
Fogged lenses
My glasses went cloudy when I came in from the cold.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Murky water
The pond looked cloudy after the storm stirred up the mud.
- 6
Unclear memory
Her memories of that summer are still a little cloudy.
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- cloudyadjective
Forms
- cloudiercomparativeadjective
- cloudiestsuperlativeadjective