moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet : damp

I love cookies when they are moist and chewy.

2

: tearful

the eyes of both of us … were moist with the joy of success

—Jack London

3

: characterized by high humidity

Fog is formed when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.

moistly adverb

moistness

ˈmȯis(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• damp
• dampish
• dank
• wettish

Choose the Right Synonym for moist

wet, damp, dank, moist, humid mean covered or more or less soaked with liquid.

wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (such as paint) not yet dry.

slipped on the wet pavement

damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture.

clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

Examples of moist in a Sentence

I love cookies when they are moist and chewy.

The pork chops were tender and moist.

a moist and spongy chocolate cake

The plant grows best in direct sunlight and with rich, moist soil.

She dabbed her moist eyes with a handkerchief.

Fog is formed when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.

The eggs will hatch sooner in warm, moist conditions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tornadoes are less common but can happen in fall and winter as cold air clashes with warm, moist air streaming out of the Gulf of Mexico. —Robert Shackelford, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

Place in oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean or with little moist bits clinging to it. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024

Reduce anal irritation by using a moist towelette or wipe instead of bathroom tissue. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2024

Keep the temperature around 65°F and the plant moist, positioned in direct sunlight. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English moiste, from Anglo-French, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *muscidus, alteration of Latin mucidus slimy, from mucus nasal mucus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet

moist earth

2

: characterized by high humidity

moistly adverb

moistness

ˈmȯis(t)-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

1

: slightly or moderately wet

2

a

: marked by a discharge or exudation of liquid

moist eczema

b

: suggestive of the presence of liquid

—used of sounds heard in auscultation

moist rales