mist
gb/mˈɪst/ us/mˈɪst/
A2
English
~ 3600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
event
1
Tiny water drops in the air
Very small drops of water in the air that make it hard to see clearly.
Usage pattern:
[mist] covers [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'mist' with 'steam'; steam comes from boiling water, while mist forms naturally in the air.
Synonyms
fog (Generally denser than mist and reduces visibility more.)
Antonyms
clear sky (A sky with no mist, fog, or clouds obstructing visibility.)
Collocations
thick mist
|morning mist
|rise from the mist
|shrouded in mist
|mist clears
Themes
weather
|nature
|travel
Examples
- The village was hidden by a thick mist.
- Mist rose from the lake at dawn.
- We drove slowly through the morning mist.
- A light mist covered the hills after the rain.
- The castle appeared through the mist as we approached.
Learner examples
- There is mist on the road.
- Mist is over the trees.
- I see mist in the morning.
- The city has mist after rain.
- Mist is around the mountains.
Verb
B1
action
2
Cover with tiny liquid drops
To put very small drops of water or other liquid on something, often using a spray.
Usage pattern:
to mist [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'mist' as a verb only refers to weather; it can also mean spraying small drops on purpose.
Synonyms
spray (Spray can be stronger and with larger droplets than mist.)
Antonyms
dry (To remove moisture rather than apply it.)
Collocations
mist the plants
|mist gently
|lightly mist
|mist face
Themes
daily life
|cleaning
|gardening
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She mists her orchids every morning to keep them healthy.
- Mist the cake lightly before adding the icing.
- The florist misted the flowers to keep them fresh.
Learner examples
- I mist my plants every day.
- Please mist the flowers now.
- He mists his face to feel cool.
Verb
literary
B2
state
3
Become blurred by moisture
When glass or eyes get wet with small drops so you cannot see clearly.
Usage pattern:
[something] mists over / up
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'mist over' with 'fog over'; both are correct but 'mist' sounds slightly softer or more literary.
Synonyms
fog up (More informal and common in American English.)
Antonyms
clear up (To lose the moisture and become clear again.)
Collocations
glasses mist up
|windows mist over
|eyes mist over
Themes
weather
|vision
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her eyes misted over with tears.
- The bathroom mirror misted up after the shower.
- My glasses misted over when I came inside from the cold.
Learner examples
- My glasses mist up in winter.
- The window mists over in rain.
- His eyes mist over when he is sad.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mist
IPA
GB/mˈɪst/
US/mˈɪst/
Syllables & stress
mist (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (mist)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: mist
- Plural: mist, mists
Verb
- Base: mist
- 3rd Person Singular: mists
- Present Participle: misting
- Past: misted
Word family
Forms
mists
noun
misting
verb
misted
verb
Core family
misty
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
mistiness
noun
mistily
adverb
Expressions
in a mist
1/ˈɪn ə mˈɪst/
fixed phrase
Feeling confused or unclear
Feeling confused and not able to think clearly.
Examples
- After the accident, she walked around in a mist, not knowing what to do.
- I was in a mist during the whole meeting and didn’t understand what they decided.
mist over
1/mˈɪst ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
Become blurred by moisture
When glass, eyes, or another surface gets wet with small drops so you cannot see clearly through it.
Examples
- His glasses misted over when he entered the warm room.
- Her eyes misted over as she remembered her childhood.
mist up
1/mˈɪst ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Become unclear from moisture
When a surface like glass gets wet with tiny drops so you cannot see well through it.
Examples
- The car windows misted up quickly in the cold weather.
- My goggles mist up when I swim.