adjective
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slightly damp or wet
-
saturated with or suggestive of moisture
Synonym Usage
See damp.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of moist
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English moiste, from Middle French; connected with Latin mūcidus “musty, moldy”; see mucid
Explanation
Moist things feel damp when you touch them — they're just a little bit wet. You might want to bring a blanket to sit on for a picnic, especially if it rained yesterday and the grass is still moist. Your houseplants are happiest when their soil is moist, and cake is most delicious if it's a little moist, not dry and crumbly. You can also describe your friend's eyes full of tears as moist, or the air on a densely foggy morning as moist. For some reason, the word moist frequently shows up on lists of "least favorite words," which makes more sense when you know its Latin root, muscidus — "moldy" or "slimy."
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.
“You serve big and hearty slices of moist, tender Swanson turkey, with grand giblet gravy and special corn-bread dressing, and fluffy, whipped sweet potatoes with golden Swanson butter, and garden-fresh peas with more butter.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
I follow Melissa Clark’s chocolate olive oil cake recipe, which has always produced a moist cake that’s slightly floral in flavor, courtesy of warm Earl Grey tea that’s whisked into the batter.
From Salon • May 10, 2026
Rising pockets of warmer, moist air create clouds, while cooler air sinks in between, leaving clear gaps.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
The weather service expects to issue wind advisories Friday, but forecasters aren’t concerned about a wildfire risk because plants and soils are still fairly moist, Wofford said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
All of the moist, sweet treat was gone before we sat back in our chairs.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
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.
