mood

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The way you feel at a particular time, especially a temporary emotional state.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a good mood', 'in a mood', or 'moods change'.

   Patterns

   • in a good/bad mood
   • someone's mood changes
   • put someone in a mood

   She's in a great mood today because she passed her exam.

   His mood changed quickly when he heard the bad news.

   I'm not in the mood for jokes right now.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A form of a verb that shows whether it expresses a fact, a command, a wish, or a possibility.

   Grammar: Technical term in grammar; usually singular when referring to a specific type, e.g. 'the subjunctive mood'.

   Patterns

   • the indicative/subjunctive/imperative mood

   In English, the subjunctive mood is used in sentences like 'I suggest that he go'.

   The imperative mood is used for commands.

Word forms

Common combinations

in the mood for

I'm in the mood for pizza tonight.

mood swings

Teenagers often experience mood swings.

bad mood

He's in a bad mood because he lost his keys.

set the mood

The soft lighting set a romantic mood.

Synonyms and how they differ

temper

Temper is often about a tendency to become angry; mood is a more general temporary feeling.

spirits

Spirits (always plural) refers to a person's general level of cheerfulness, while mood can be positive or negative.

frame of mind

Frame of mind is a slightly more formal phrase for a temporary mental state; mood is more everyday.

Word family

moody adjective

Often changing moods, especially becoming unhappy or angry easily.

moodily adverb

In a moody way; with changeable or gloomy feelings.

moodiness noun

The quality of often being moody.

Commonly confused: mood or mood?

Practice

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