WordGarden.iomisty
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈɪsti/
US
- /ˈmɪsti/
Meanings
Adjective
filled with mist or lightly obscured by mist
softly blurred, dim, or tear-filled in appearance
vague, dreamy, or dimly remembered
Beyond the definition
Imagine waking up to a world softened at the edges, where distant trees seem like ghosts and colors are muted. That's misty. It describes something filled with or covered in mist—tiny water droplets suspended in the air that reduce visibility. A misty morning feels magical, but it can also make driving tricky!
Think of foggy London, a misty moor in Scotland, or even a misty memory from your childhood. The word evokes a sense of mystery and gentle obscurity. You might describe a person's eyes as "misty with tears," meaning they are slightly blurred by emotion. It's not quite rain, but it feels like something is hanging in the air.
The word misty describes conditions where visibility is reduced due to tiny water droplets suspended in the air—what we commonly call mist or fog. While often used literally to describe weather, "misty" can also be a wonderfully evocative adjective applied to other things.
A misty landscape isn't necessarily just covered in physical mist; it suggests a soft, dreamlike quality where details are blurred and softened. Think of the rolling hills of Ireland shrouded in mist, or a photograph with a deliberately hazy filter. "The old lighthouse stood silhouetted against the misty sea" paints a picture of atmospheric beauty.
Beyond weather and landscapes, misty can describe states of mind. "Her eyes were misty with sadness" means they were filled with tears, appearing blurred and unfocused. A misty memory isn't necessarily inaccurate, but rather faded and indistinct—like trying to recall a dream.
The key is that misty implies a lack of clarity, whether it's due to atmospheric conditions or emotional haze. It suggests something veiled, softened, and subtly mysterious. It's more delicate than fog, less dense, and often carries a romantic or melancholic tone. So next time you encounter a world obscured by tiny water droplets, or find yourself lost in a faded recollection, remember the evocative power of misty.
Examples
- 1
Weather
We set off early on a cool, misty morning.
- 2
Landscape
From the train window, the hills looked soft and misty.
- 3
Tearful eyes
Her eyes grew misty when she talked about her grandfather.
- Phraseeyes grew misty
filled with tears
- 4
Unclear memory
I have only a misty memory of my first day at school.
- Phrasea misty memory
a memory that is not clear
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- mistyadjective
Forms
- mistiercomparativeadjective
- mistiestsuperlativeadjective