wistful

[wist-fuhl]

adjective

1. characterized by melancholy or longing.

2. pensive, especially in a melancholy way.

   Synonyms: forlorn, meditative, musing, contemplative, reflective

wistful

/ ˈwɪstfʊl /

adjective

1. sadly pensive, esp about something yearned for

Other Word Forms

• wistfully adverb
• wistfulness noun
• unwistful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wistful¹

First recorded in 1605–15; obsolete wist “quiet, silent, attentive” (variant of whist ² ) + -ful

Example Sentences

Like all the songs here, it’s at least partly about heartbreak and trying to move on after a relationship went wrong, and his melody is tinged with wistful sadness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The recording closes with tracks by Mr. Vieira-Branco—the elegant and wistful “October 26th” and two midtempo compositions, “Paradise Lawns/October 29th,” that are connected by Mr. Taylor’s longest solo of the album.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The stranger gives a wistful smile, like she’s savoring a fond memory.

Read more on Literature

But Fabbro’s wistful salute to bygone traditions has significant limitations, especially noticeable in the reductive design of his diametrically opposed main characters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But at the same time, fans will grow wistful, as with the present writer, when the Wings dream is crushed in the aftermath of McCartney’s 1980 Japanese drug bust.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• contemplative 
• dreamy 
• forlorn 
• melancholy 
• mournful 
• nostalgic 
• pensive 
• plaintive 
• sad 
• thoughtful