cloudy
Americanadjective
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full of or overcast by clouds.
a cloudy sky.
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having little or no sunshine.
a cloudy but rainless day.
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having cloudlike markings.
cloudy marble.
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not clear or transparent; murky.
He could not see through the cloudy liquid.
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darkened by gloom, trouble, etc.
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under suspicion, disgrace, etc..
a gambler with a cloudy reputation.
adjective
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covered with cloud or clouds
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of or like a cloud or clouds
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streaked or mottled like a cloud
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opaque or muddy
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obscure or unclear
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troubled by gloom or depression
his face had a cloudy expression
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of cloudy
First recorded before 900; Middle English cloudi, Old English clūdig “rocky, hilly”; see cloud, -y 1
Explanation
When the sky is cloudy, it's so full of clouds that you can't see the sun. A cloudy day isn't ideal for a trip to the beach, and a cloudy night isn't great for star gazing. A cloudy sky tells you that rain's on the way, while a cloudy pond or a cloudy glass of water isn't translucent — you can't see through it. You can also describe an issue, thought, or memory as cloudy when it's vague or half-remembered or unclear. Cloudy comes from the Old English word clud, "mass of rock," and later "cloud," based on the way a cloud can resemble a rock or hill.
Vocabulary lists containing cloudy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
We meet on a cloudy afternoon at the palace, a neo-Byzantine structure in a grove on the outskirts of Sofia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
On a cloudy weekday morning last month, I visited San Juan Capistrano hoping to see the future of this country in a place gladly stuck in its past.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026
Across the kitchen, one such professional, Pat Clougherty, poured himself a finger of the cloudy beverage, which had been bought in the local supermarket, into a rocks glass.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Most of this cloudy, wet weather will affect Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
The sour aunt held a china bowl in one hand and a cloudy glass in the other.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
That said, extended periods of sunny weather during heatwaves can still boost solar output relative to cloudier days before the heatwave hit.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
A tough market in China is behind the cloudier outlook, the Munich-based group said, pointing to lower estimates for total sales in the overall Chinese auto market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
In England and Wales, where the early patchy fog cleared quickly, cloudier skies are expected to dominate into the afternoon.
From BBC ● May 4, 2026
The picture is a little cloudier for actors in a supporting role, said Feinberg, with both male and female categories up for grabs.
From Barron's ● Mar. 1, 2026
Drizzle floats over the hilltop and the sky gets cloudier.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
May and June are usually Southern California’s cloudiest months, Sirard said, but the persistence of the trough made it even more so this year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2023
She had to stop driving; the sunlight on even the cloudiest day forced her to close her eyes.
From New York Times ● Aug. 11, 2021
He forgot how McEnroe’s eyes used to narrow as if against the noonday glare, even on the cloudiest of days.
From The New Yorker ● Aug. 24, 2018
Occasionally on the cloudiest of Martian days we are able to make out faint clouds in the sky.
From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2018
The happy birds attune their songs to ours, And rainbow hues encircle frolic showers; Our saddest tears are wept without dismay; Soft shining sunsets cheer the cloudiest day.
From The Magician's Show Box and Other Stories by Child, Lydia Maria Francis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
