mists

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Thin clouds of tiny water drops in the air that make it hard to see far.

   Grammar: This is the plural form of 'mist'; use it when talking about several patches or layers of mist, often in literary descriptions.

   Patterns

   • the mists of something
   • mists rise
   • mists clear

   The mists rose slowly from the valley as the sun came up.

   We could see the hills through the mists of early morning.

   The mists of time have hidden the truth about what happened.

2. 2nounpluralfigurativeliterary

   A state of confusion or uncertainty that makes something difficult to understand.

   Grammar: Used figuratively, especially in the phrase 'the mists of time', meaning something is lost in the distant past.

   Patterns

   • the mists of time
   • lost in the mists of something

   The origins of the festival are lost in the mists of time.

   Her early life is hidden in the mists of history.

Word forms

Common combinations

the mists of time

The exact date is lost in the mists of time.

mists rise

Mists rise from the lake every morning.

mists clear

The mists cleared by noon.

through the mists

We walked through the mists along the shore.

Synonyms and how they differ

fog

Fog is thicker and reduces visibility more than mist; use 'fog' for dangerous driving conditions.

haze

Haze is usually caused by heat or dust, not just water droplets, and is often less wet than mist.

vapor

Vapor is a technical term for water in gas form; mist is tiny liquid drops in the air.

Opposites

Word family

mist noun

A thin cloud of water drops near the ground.

misty adjective

Full of or covered with mist.

mistily adverb

In a misty way; unclearly.

Commonly confused: mists or missed?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “mists”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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