Word.ws English Dictionary

moist

/mɔɪst/

moist adjective: characterized by the presence of moisture; not dry; slightly wet; damp.

Adjective

moist (comparative moister or more moist, superlative moistest or most moist)

  1. Characterized by the presence of moisture; not dry; slightly wet; damp.
    • Will theſe moyſt Trees, / That haue out-liu'd the Eagle, page thy heeles / And skip when thou point'ſt out?c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
    • And [the Angel of the Lord] made the mids of the fornace, as it had bene a moiſt whiſtling wind, ſo that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Prayer of Azariah, verse 26, column 1
  2. Of eyes: wet with tears; tearful; also (obsolete), watery due to some illness or to old age.
    • [H]aue you not a moiſt eie, a dry hand, a yelow cheeke, a white beard, a decreaſing leg, an increaſing belly? […] and will you yet call your ſelfe yong? fie, fie, fie, ſir Iohn.c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600...
    • Come, the other are conſiderations, when wee come to haue gray heads, and weake hammes, moiſt eyes, and ſhrunke members. Wee'll thinke on 'hem then; then wee'll pray, and faſt.1609 December (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Epicoene, or The Silent Woman. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby...
  3. Of a climate, the weather, etc.: damp, humid, rainy.
    • Ye Swains, invoke the Pow'rs who rule the Sky, / For a moiſt Summer, and a Winter dry: / For Winter drout rewards the Peaſant's Pain, / And broods indulgent on the bury'd Grain.1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 53, lines...
    • [I]n the year 1752, which we may reckon among ſome of our moiſteſt Summers throughout England, more Rain fell at London than at Plymouth, according to an eſtimate made at both places; […]1758, William Borlase, “Of the Air, and Weather”, in The Natural History of Cornwall. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [F]or the author, by W. Jackson; sold by W. Sandby, […], →OCLC, page 6
  4. (informal) Of the vagina: sexually lubricated due to sexual arousal; of a woman: sexually aroused, turned on.
    • He slid a finger in me, checking to make sure I was moist and ready for him.2008, Marcia King-Gamble, chapter 14, in Meet Phoenix (Kimani Romance), New York, N.Y.: Kimani Press, →ISBN, page 168
    Synonyms:
    wet
  5. Characterized by the presence of some fluid such as mucus, pus, etc.
  6. Of sounds of internal organs (especially as heard through a stethoscope): characterized by the sound of air bubbling through a fluid.
  7. (historical) Pertaining to one of the four essential qualities formerly believed to be present in all things, characterized by wetness; also, having a significant amount of this quality.
    • [T]he moiſt ſtarre, / Vpon whoſe influence Neptunes Empier ſtands, / Was ſicke almoſt to doomeſday with eclipſe, […]c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604...
    • […] Ergo it behooveth then, that the firſt age, and the firſt ſeaſon of things ſhould beginne in the moiſteſt Signe, which is Aries, and in his head, as the principall of the Members, the Fortreſſe of the Soule, and the Signe of Life.1621, William of Saluste, Lord of Bartus [i.e., Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas], “The Fourth Day of the First VVeeke of VVilliam of Salust, Lord of Bartas”, in T. L. D. M. P. [pseudonym; Thomas...
  8. (obsolete) Fluid, liquid, watery.
    • O pardon me, my liege, but for my teares, / The moiſt impediments vnto my ſpeech, / I had foreſtald this deere and deep rebuke, […]c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600...
    • For the chief, he in whom Pallas pour'd / Her store of counsels, Ithacus, aboard went last, and then / The moist ways of the sea they sail'd.[1611?], Homer, “Book I”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC; republished as The Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets, […], new...
  9. (also, obsolete, poetic) Bringing moisture or rain.
    • And the moiſt daughters of huge Atlas ſtroue / Into the Ocean deepe to driue their weary droue.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 57, page 407
    • Ere twice in murke and occidentall dampe / Moiſt Heſperus hath quench'd her ſleepy Lampe: […]c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...

Noun (1)

moist (uncountable)

  1. (regional, obsolete except US) Moistness; also, moisture.
    • [T]hey launch'd the ship, the mast it bore / Advanc'd, sails hoised, every seat his oar / Gave with a leather thong. The deep moist then / They further reach'd.1614–1615, Homer, “The Eighth Book of Homer’s Odysseys”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615...
    • Th' Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the ſeav'n / […] / That run through all the Heav'ns, or down to th' Earth / Bear his [God's] ſwift errands over moiſt and dry, / O're Sea and Land: […]1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...

Verb

moist (third-person singular simple present moists, present participle moisting, simple past and past participle moisted)

  1. (US, regional, transitive, obsolete except UK) To make (something) moist or wet; to moisten.
    • He calleth for a ſponge (ſaith Theodoritus) and therevvith moiſteth and vvaſsheth Simeones mouthe, and then geueth him the holy Sacrament.1566 January 30, Iohn Iewel [i.e. John Jewel], “M. [Thomas] Hardinge. The 21. Diuision.”, in A Replie unto M. Hardinges Ansvveare: […], London: […] Henry VVykes, →OCLC
    • They [the legendary Fortunate Isles] haue raine there very ſeldom, howbeit a gentle winde commonly that bloweth in a litle ſiluer dew, which moiſteth the earth ſo finely, that it maketh it fertile and luſtie, not onely to bring forth all that is ſet or ſowen apon it but of it ſelfe without mans...1579, Plutarke of Chæronea [i.e., Plutarch], “The Life of Sertorius”, in Thomas North, transl., The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romaines, […], London: […] Richard Field, →OCLC, page 629
  2. (figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To inspire, to refresh (someone); also, to soften (one's heart).
  3. (US, intransitive) To rain lightly; to drizzle.
  4. (intransitive, obsolete) To have an effect of moistening or wetting.
    • Auyſing the bright bemes of theſe fayer Iyes / where he is that myn oft moiſteth & waſſhethc. 1527–1542, Thomas Wyatt, “Auysing the bright bemes of these fayer Iyes”, in Egerton MS 2711, page 22r
    • Againe, nothyng moiſteth ſoner then water. Therefore, a wepyng eye cauſeth muche moiſture, and prouoketh teares.1553, “Of Mouyng Pitie”, in Thomas Wilson, transl., The Arte of Rhetorike, for the Use of All sutche as are Studious of Eloquence, […], London: […] Jhon Kyngston, published 1580, →OCLC, page 136

Noun (2) capitalized: Moist

Moist (plural Moists)

  1. A follower of the religion of Moism.

Proper noun capitalized: Moist

Moist

  1. A surname.

moist meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi and Urdu

moist in Hindi

characterized by the presence of moisture; slightly wet
गीला gīlā, आबी ābī, नम nam

moist in Tamil

ஈரமான

moist in Marathi

moist, humid, damp
आर्द्र ārdra

moist in Urdu

moist
نم nam, شاداب śādāb, آبی ābī
moist; damp
گیلا gīlā
More languagesFewer languages
moist in Bengali
স্যাঁতসেঁতে, আর্দ্র, ভেজা
moist in Telugu
తేమ tēma
moist in Malayalam
നനഞ്ഞ, മഴയുളള, മാർദ്ദവമുളള, ഈർപ്പമുള്ള
moist in Kannada
ಕೊಂಚ ನೆನೆದು ಒದ್ದೆಯಾದ, ತೇವವಾದ, ಮಳೆಗಾಲದ, ವರ್ಷಾಕಾಲದ
moist in Punjabi
ਗਿੱਲਾ gillā
moist in Gujarati
લીલું līlũ
moist in Odia
ଭିଜା bhijā
moist in Sanskrit
सरस sarasa, रसवत् rásavat
moist in Assamese
জেকা zeka, সেমেকা xemeka
moist in Arabic
رَطِب raṭib, بَلّ ball
moist in Malay
lembap
moist in Indonesian
lembap
moist in Persian
نمناک namnâk
moist in Thai
ชุ่มชื้น chûm-chʉ́ʉn
moist in Vietnamese
ẩm

Examples of moist in a sentence

  • [Y]et the North-ſide [of the pyramids of Giza] moſt worne, by reaſon of the humiditie of the Northerne wind, which here is the moiſteſt.1625, [Samuel] Purchas, “Relations of Africa, Taken Out of Master George Sandys His Larger Discourse Obserued in His Iourney, Begun Ann....
  • [W]e ſee Swines and Pigs Fleſh is the Moiſteſt of Fleſhes.1631, Francis [Bacon], “V. Century. [Experiments in Consort, Touching the Melioration of Fruits, Trees, and Plants.]”, in Sylua Syluarum...
  • [T]he Winds / Blow moiſt and keen, ſhattering the graceful locks / Of theſe fair ſpreading Trees; […]1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert...
  • Joseph Smith, a diffident, conscientious young man with moist hands and an awkward, absent-minded manner, was head gardener at Wotton Vanborough.1937 November 1, “Books: Modernist Miracle: The Gardener Who Saw God—Edward James—Scribner ($2.50) [book review]”, in Time, New York, N.Y....

All 40 example sentences with moist

Synonyms of moist

30 more synonymsFewer synonyms

Antonyms

8 more antonymsFewer antonyms

All synonyms and antonyms of moist

Forms of moist

Adjective
comparativemoister
comparativemore moist
superlativemoistest
superlativemost moist
Verb
third-person singular presentmoists
present participlemoisting
past participlemoisted
pastmoisted
Noun
pluralMoists

Origin of moist

The adjective is derived from Middle English moist, moiste [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman moist, moiste, moste, Middle French moiste, and Old French moiste, muste (“damp, moist, wet”) (modern French moite); further etymology uncertain, perhaps a blend of a Late Latin variant of Latin mūcidus (“mouldy, musty”) + a Late Latin derivative of Latin mustum (“unfermented or partially fermented grape juice or wine, must”). The noun is derived from the adjective.

From Middle English moisten, moist, moiste (“to make moist or wet; to soak in liquid; to become moist or wet; to provide with moisture or water; to satisfy thirst with liquor or water, slake”) [and other forms], and then either: * from Anglo-Norman muster (“to make moist or wet”), Middle French moistir, and Old French moistir (“to make moist or wet; to become moist or wet”) (compare enmoistir; modern French moitir), from Old French moiste, muste (“damp, moist, wet”) (see etymology 1) + -ir (suffix forming infinitives of second conjugation verbs); or * from Middle English moist, moiste (adjective) (see etymology 1), though the adjective is first attested later.

Words formed from moist

Phrases with moist

Words that rhyme with moist

Questions about moist

What does moist mean?
Moist means characterized by the presence of moisture; not dry; slightly wet; damp.
What is moist in Hindi?
Moist in Hindi is गीला (gīlā), आबी (ābī), नम (nam). See Moist meaning in Hindi.
How do you use moist in a sentence?
[Y]et the North-ſide [of the pyramids of Giza] moſt worne, by reaſon of the humiditie of the Northerne wind, which here is the moiſteſt.
What part of speech is moist?
Moist can be an adjective, a noun, a verb or a proper noun.
How do you pronounce moist?
Moist is pronounced /mɔɪst/ (UK).

Words near moist in the dictionary

  1. Moissan
  2. moissanite
  3. moissanites
  4. Moisset
  5. Moisson
  6. moist
  7. moist media
  8. moist moment
  9. moist moments
  10. moist tetter
  11. moist towelette

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: moist (page history and authors); Moist (page history and authors); moist (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); आर्द्र (Marathi) (page history and authors); آبی (Urdu) (page history and authors); Moist (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); తేమ (Telugu) (page history and authors); moist (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); moist (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors); ਗਿੱਲਾ (Punjabi) (page history and authors); લીલું (Gujarati) (page history and authors); ଭିଜା (Odia) (page history and authors); रसवत् (Sanskrit) (page history and authors); জেকা (Assamese) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-uk-moist.ogg, En-us-moist.ogg.

Cite this entry: “moist.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/moist. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.