1
a
: vapor condensed to fine particles of water suspended in the lower atmosphere that differs from cloud only in being near the ground
b
: a fine spray or a foam for firefighting
2
: a murky condition of the atmosphere or a substance causing it
3
a
: a state of confusion or bewilderment
spent the morning in a fog
b
: something that confuses or obscures
hid behind a fog of rhetoric
4
: cloudiness or partial opacity in a developed photographic image caused by chemical action or stray radiation
fogged; fogging
1
: to cover, envelop, or suffuse with or as if with fog
fog the barns with pesticide
2
: to make obscure or confusing
accusations which fogged the real issues
3
: to make confused
4
: to produce fog on (something, such as a photographic film) during development
1
: to become covered or thick with fog
2
a
: to become blurred by a covering of fog or mist
b
: to become indistinct through exposure to light or radiation
Synonyms
Examples of fog in a Sentence
Noun
Heavy fog made it difficult to see the road.
a climate marked by heavy fogs
The fog reduced visibility to a quarter of a mile.
This problem has me in a fog.
Verb
The steam from the pot was fogging the window near the stove.
The bathroom was all fogged up after my shower.
politicians who try to fog the issue instead of taking a stand
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Besser, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
Now, candidates are racing to break through the fog before the polls close in less than a month.
—The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Even in the fog of war, there was little obscuring the grim reality.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Eighteen of those collapses happened in the U.S. These include when barges being pushed by a towboat in dense fog hit and displaced the Big Bayou Canot railroad bridge near Mobile, Alabama.
—NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
They are warned not to live there because of the cold and the fog.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
The fog still hung over the town nestled on the banks of the Ohio River, a common sight this time of year.
—Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2024
Saturday will begin with a thick marine layer along the entire coastline and possibly patches of fog in some areas.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, at the flat center of the region, valley floor fruit is the recipient of generous sunlight and a steady cycle of morning fog and cool breezes from San Pablo Bay and constant flow of warmer air from San Joaquin Valley to the east.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
That fogs the lens of how the season and its finish is viewed.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
She could be plunged into early menopause, her brain could fog like a dark winter’s night, her mouth could be full of ulcers, her fingernails may even fall out.
—Chloe Fox, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2024
But Kerry Abbott noticed condensation fogging the windows — a sign someone might be inside.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024
Advertisement Newsom, whose responsibilities go beyond that of lieutenant governor — which are, essentially, fogging a mirror and sitting on various boards and commissions — took a more reasoned and responsible approach.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2023
The turmoil from the attack fogged Meg’s ability to speed past the drama, as social media often poked fun at her and, in some cases, took Lanez’s side in the public drama.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 7 Feb. 2024
Our camera instantly fogged up and the concrete walls and arches beaded sweat.
—Matt Gutman, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2024
Beyond that, this helmet is also quite lightweight, warm, and ventilated to keep little ones’ heads from sweating and goggles from fogging up.
—Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2023
Noun
Guests watched as headlights sliced the fog and the new Mercedes-Benz G 580 made its grand entrance down a floating runway.
—Rachel Besser, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
Now, candidates are racing to break through the fog before the polls close in less than a month.
—The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Even in the fog of war, there was little obscuring the grim reality.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Eighteen of those collapses happened in the U.S. These include when barges being pushed by a towboat in dense fog hit and displaced the Big Bayou Canot railroad bridge near Mobile, Alabama.
—NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
They are warned not to live there because of the cold and the fog.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
The fog still hung over the town nestled on the banks of the Ohio River, a common sight this time of year.
—Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2024
Saturday will begin with a thick marine layer along the entire coastline and possibly patches of fog in some areas.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, at the flat center of the region, valley floor fruit is the recipient of generous sunlight and a steady cycle of morning fog and cool breezes from San Pablo Bay and constant flow of warmer air from San Joaquin Valley to the east.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
Worthy and longtime Lakers athletic trainer Gary Vitti met with a sunglasses manufacturer who designed goggles that didn’t fog up or cause skin abrasions.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
That fogs the lens of how the season and its finish is viewed.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
She could be plunged into early menopause, her brain could fog like a dark winter’s night, her mouth could be full of ulcers, her fingernails may even fall out.
—Chloe Fox, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2024
But Kerry Abbott noticed condensation fogging the windows — a sign someone might be inside.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024
Advertisement Newsom, whose responsibilities go beyond that of lieutenant governor — which are, essentially, fogging a mirror and sitting on various boards and commissions — took a more reasoned and responsible approach.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2023
The turmoil from the attack fogged Meg’s ability to speed past the drama, as social media often poked fun at her and, in some cases, took Lanez’s side in the public drama.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 7 Feb. 2024
Our camera instantly fogged up and the concrete walls and arches beaded sweat.
—Matt Gutman, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2024
Beyond that, this helmet is also quite lightweight, warm, and ventilated to keep little ones’ heads from sweating and goggles from fogging up.
—Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fog.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fog
Cite this Entry
“Fog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fog. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fog
1 of 2 noun
ˈfȯg 
ˈfäg
1
a
: fine particles of water floating in the atmosphere near the ground
b
: a fine spray or a foam for firefighting
2
: a gloomy condition of the atmosphere or a substance causing it
3
: a state of mental confusion
spent the morning in a fog
fog
2 of 2 verb
fogged; fogging
1
: to cover or become covered with or as if with fog
2
: to make confused
Medical Definition
fog
transitive verb
fogged; fogging
: to blur (a visual field) with lenses that prevent a sharp focus in order to relax accommodation before testing vision
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