wistful
gb/wˈɪstfəl/ us/wˈɪstfəl/
C1
English
~ 8900
nosztalgikus, merengő
C1
1
nosztalgikus
B2
merengő
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is wistful about [something]
She gave him a wistful smile before closing the door.
Mielőtt becsukta az ajtót, egy merengő mosolyt vetett rá.
Looking out at the playground, he felt suddenly wistful for his childhood.
A játszóteret nézve hirtelen nosztalgiával gondolt vissza a gyerekkorára.
There was a wistful tone in her voice when she spoke about her years abroad.
He grew wistful as he read old letters from his first love.
The movie left me feeling wistful about the friendships I used to have.
Learner examples
She looked at the old photos with a wistful smile.
Merengő mosollyal nézte a régi fényképeket.
He felt wistful when he thought about his life in his home country.
Amikor a hazájában töltött életére gondolt, nosztalgia fogta el.
There was a wistful sound in her voice when she talked about her past.
I get wistful every time I visit my old school.
His eyes were wistful as he watched the train leave.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'wistful' with 'wishful'. 'Wistful' means quietly sad and full of longing, while 'wishful' means hoping for something (as in 'wishful thinking'). Another mistake is using 'wistful' for very strong or dramatic sadness; it usually describes a gentle, soft kind of sadness.
Meaning
gently sad and full of longing
Collocations
wistful smile
|wistful look
|wistful eyes
|wistful expression
|wistful tone
|feel wistful
Synonyms
nostalgic (Focuses more on warm sadness about the past, while 'wistful' can be about the past or an unrealized desire.)
|
yearning (Stronger feeling of desire; 'wistful' is softer and more quiet.)
|
melancholy (A deeper, more general sadness; 'wistful' usually suggests a specific, gentle longing.)
Antonyms
content (Describes being quietly satisfied, without the sadness or longing present in 'wistful'.)
|
cheerful (Expresses light, happy feelings, the emotional opposite of the quiet sadness in 'wistful'.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|memory
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Feeling or showing a soft, quiet sadness because you want something that you cannot have, or because you miss something.
Feeling or showing a quiet sadness, often because you want something you cannot have or miss something from the past.
Grammar
Dictionary form
wistful
IPA
GB/wˈɪstfəl/
US/wˈɪstfəl/
Syllables & stress
wist - ful (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (wist)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: wistful
Word family
Core family
wistfully
adverb C1
Related words
wistfulness
noun
Expressions
a wistful expression
1/ə wˈɪstfəl ɪkspɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
face showing gentle sad longing
The way someone's face looks when they feel quiet sadness and longing.
Examples
- There was a wistful expression on her face as she listened to the old song.
- He wore a wistful expression throughout the farewell party.
a wistful look
2/ə wˈɪstfəl lˈʊk/
fixed phrase
a gently sad, longing expression
A way of looking that shows quiet sadness and that you want or miss something.
Examples
- She gave the empty house a wistful look before leaving.
- He had a wistful look in his eyes when he talked about his old band.
a wistful smile
3/ə wˈɪstfəl smˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
a quiet, sad, longing smile
A soft smile that shows a quiet sadness and a wish for something you cannot have or that is past.
Examples
- She gave a wistful smile as she waved goodbye.
- He watched the children play with a wistful smile on his face.
feel wistful
4/fˈil wˈɪstfəl/
fixed phrase
experience gentle sadness and longing
To have a quiet, soft sadness and a wish for something you cannot have or that is gone.
Examples
- I always feel wistful when I hear that song.
- She felt wistful as she packed her things to leave the city.