moisture
Americannoun
-
condensed or diffused liquid, especially water.
moisture in the air.
-
a small quantity of liquid, especially water; enough liquid to moisten.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of moisture
1325–75; Middle English; see moist, -ure; compare Middle French moistour
Explanation
Moisture is the feeling of wetness — what you want in your cupcake but not in your diapers. Moisture is the noun related to the adjective moist, which you might use to describe damp soil, clammy air, or melt-in-your-mouth desserts. Moisture has also been known to promote mold growth and frizz otherwise tame hair, so it doesn't have many fans — other than tropical plants and the very thirsty.
Vocabulary lists containing moisture
Holes
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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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"Brothers in Hope"
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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.
As more planet-warming gases are released from burning fossil fuels, rising heat is also causing more moisture to evaporate off the land and making plants absorb more moisture.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
The climate, low in moisture that can lead to rust in corrosion, is ideal for parking planes.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
Moreover, the foods that naturally carry certain types of fiber, thanks to moisture levels or other characteristics, often make for the best delivery systems for that fiber.
From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026
This year much of the UK started spring with plenty of moisture in the soil after a wetter than average winter.
From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026
“This is how little moisture you need to get the steam to rise.”
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
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.
