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
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.
He also landed directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who are the duo behind big commercial hits such as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
Cloudy brine is a signal of tasty pickled cucumbers, but it can be a problem for lox.
From Salon • Apr. 17, 2024
Cloudy skies will filter sunshine and patches of bright blue skies into the region, and Sunday is expected to be the driest day ahead.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024
Cloudy skies should partially clear by Sunday afternoon with the weather expected to trend sunnier and warmer by the start the work week.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2023
It wasn’t like other school plays I’ve been to, like The Wizard of Oz or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
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.
