atmospheric
Americanadjective
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pertaining to, existing in, or consisting of the atmosphere.
atmospheric vapors.
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caused by, produced by, or operated on by the atmosphere.
atmospheric storms.
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resembling or suggestive of the atmosphere; having muted tones and softened or indistinct outlines; hazy.
atmospheric effects.
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having or producing an emotional atmosphere.
atmospheric quality; atmospheric lighting.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of atmospheric
First recorded in 1775–85; atmosphere + -ic
Explanation
Something that's atmospheric is related to a planet's atmosphere, or the gases that surround it. Atmospheric pollution can sometimes cause asthma and other breathing problems. All planets have an atmosphere, layers of gas that are held close to them by their gravitational pull. The atmospheric conditions on Earth have allowed many life forms to develop, but global warming is a serious atmospheric problem that is getting worse. Every planet has its own unique atmospheric makeup. The adjective atmospheric comes from atmosphere, which stems from the Greek root words atmos, "steam or vapor," and spharia, "sphere or globe."
Vocabulary lists containing atmospheric
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 3–February 9, 2024
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 23–October 29, 2021
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 4
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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.
Pillinger and his team believed it had descended too quickly after being caught out by Martian atmospheric conditions.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Researchers used a model created by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts to estimate how seasonal atmospheric changes alter Earth's center of mass.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
Yes, I have streamed plenty of AI music on YouTube, often unintentionally when the vaporwave or atmospheric DnB mix I’m vibing to autoplays some slop channel.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
The city’s claims are based on the global phenomenon of climate change and the atmospheric accumulation of greenhouse gases from every carbon source around the world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
But I remember the deadly quiet in the camp the morning before it began, that heavy atmospheric threat of something about to burst.
From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston
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.
