# misty

/ˈmɪsti/ (US) · /mˈɪsti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/misty
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. weather/visibility

adjective · CEFR B1

full of mist or thin fog, making it hard to see far.

For teachers: characterised by or covered with mist; obscured by low-lying water vapour.

- The mountains looked beautiful in the misty morning air.
- The hikers struggled to find the trail markers in the misty conditions, as the visibility had dropped to less than twenty metres.

### 2. vague or unclear

adjective · CEFR B2

not clear or easy to see, hear, or remember.

For teachers: lacking clarity or distinctness; vague or obscure in form or memory.

- I have a misty memory of visiting this park when I was a child.
- The old photograph was so misty and faded that we could barely recognise the faces of our ancestors.

### 3. eyes full of tears

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having eyes that are wet with tears, usually because you are feeling emotional.

For teachers: describing eyes that are blurred or moist with tears, typically due to nostalgia or sadness.

- She grew misty-eyed as she watched her daughter walk onto the stage.
- The veteran grew misty at the sight of the memorial, his composure momentarily failing him as he recalled his fallen comrades.

## Examples

- The morning was cold and misty.
- Drivers had to slow down as they entered the misty valley where visibility was very low.
- The photographer captured the ancient castle against a misty backdrop, creating an ethereal atmosphere that blurred the lines between the stone walls and the grey sky.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.