Meaning & use
humid
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Having a lot of water vapor in the air, which makes you feel sticky and uncomfortable.
Grammar: Used to describe weather or air; it is not usually compared (not 'more humid' in everyday use, though 'more humid' can be used to compare two places).
Patterns
- humid weather
- a humid day
- humid air
- it is humid
The summer in Tokyo is very humid, so you sweat just walking outside.
We turned on the air conditioner because the room felt hot and humid.
Florida is known for its humid climate, especially near the coast.
Word forms
| comparative | more humid |
|---|---|
| superlative | most humid |
Common combinations
- hot and humid
- The weather forecast says it will be hot and humid all week.
- humid climate
- Plants that like a humid climate grow well in this region.
- humid summer
- We spent a humid summer in Shanghai.
- feel humid
- After the rain, the air felt humid and heavy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- muggy
- Muggy means unpleasantly warm and humid, often used when the air feels heavy and sticky; it is stronger and more negative than humid.
- damp
- Damp means slightly wet, often describing a surface or a room, not the air; humid specifically describes air with a lot of moisture.
- moist
- Moist means slightly wet, often in a pleasant or neutral way, and is used for things like cake or skin; humid is only for air or weather.
Opposites
Word family
- humidity noun
- The amount of water vapor in the air.
- humidify verb
- To make the air more humid, often with a machine.
- dehumidify verb
- To remove moisture from the air.
Commonly confused: humid or wet? humid or humidity?
humid vs wet
Wet means covered or soaked with liquid water, like a wet towel; humid means the air contains a lot of water vapor, not that things are dripping.
humid vs humidity
Humidity is the noun for the amount of moisture in the air; humid is the adjective describing the air itself.
Practice
The air in the greenhouse is very ______, so the plants grow well.
Choose one answer.
Humid describes air that contains a lot of water vapor, which is ideal for many plants. 'Wet' suggests liquid water on surfaces, 'damp' means slightly wet and is used for objects or rooms, and 'moist' means slightly wet and is not used for air in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “humid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.