Meanings
fog1
nounfog (countable and uncountable, plural fogs)
plural fogs
- uncountableA thick cloud that forms near the ground; the obscurity of such a cloud.
a bank of fog
2 more examples
Thus the red damask curtains which now shut out the fog-laden, drizzling atmosphere of the Marylebone Road, had cost a mere song, and yet they might have been warranted to last another thirty years. A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor;[…].
1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter I, in The Lodger, London: Methuen, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0016Wallis and Curtiz eventually agreed to shoot Howard Koch’s preferred ending, with distraught Ilse^([sic]), still in love with Rick, going off with Laszlo to America, and Rick and Louis going off together into the fog. (In Morocco? Fog? Never mind.)
2012 March 19, David Denby, “Everybody Comes to Rick’s: “Casablanca” on the Big Screen”, in The New Yorker - countablefigurativelyuncountableA state of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion.
He did so many drugs, he was still in a fog three months after going through detox.
1 more example
I was on my way to the door, but all at once, through the fog in my head, I began to sight one reef that I hadn't paid any attention to afore.
1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter IV, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC - countableuncountablecomputer graphicsDistance fog.
verbfog (third-person singular simple present fogs, present participle fogging, simple past and past participle fogged)
present singular third person fogs · participle present fogging · participle past fogged · past fogged
- intransitiveTo become covered with or as if with fog.
- intransitiveTo become obscured in condensation or water.
The mirror fogged every time he showered.
Synonyms: become cloudy, become steamy
- transitiveartsTo make dim or obscure.
- transitiveartsTo spoil (film) via exposure to light other than in the normal process of taking a photograph.
- transitiveTo cover with or as if with fog.
Fogging for adult mosquito control began on June 4th in residential areas. Until September 25th, the Metro area was fogged eleven times, using nine truck-mounted foggers, eight hand swing foggers, and two boats.
1968, Eighth Annual Report, Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, page 7 - transitiveTo disperse insecticide into (a forest canopy) so as to collect organisms.
- transitiveTo obscure in condensation or water.
Unfortunately, the pendulum has swung way too far to the other end where the saying in the industry is is^([sic]) that if you could fog a mirror, you could get a loan.
2008, United States Congress, House Committee on Financial Services. Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity - Foreclosure, Foreclosure Prevention and Intervention: The Importance of Loss Mitigation, page 46
fog2
nounfog (uncountable)
- uncountableA new growth of grass appearing on a field that has been mowed or grazed.
The inclosures of fog, or aftergrass, reserved for spring-feed, are now supposed to be shut up, also the burnet, which is never to be fed in autumn ...
1800, John Lawrenece, The New Farmer's Calendar; Or, Monthly Remembrancer, for All Kinds of Country Business: Comprehending All the Material Improvements in the New Husbandry ... By a Farmer and Breeder [i.e. J. Lawrence]., page 114Synonyms: aftergrass, aftermath, eddish
- UKdialectaluncountableTall and decaying grass left standing after the cutting or grazing season.
[…] and they generally leave a great deal of Fog to rot on the Ground, which, with the Help of his well turned Dung-hill, dress his Ground […]
1744, William Agric Ellis, The Modern Husbandman, page 104Synonyms: foggage
- ScotlanduncountableMoss.
verbfog (third-person singular simple present fogs, present participle fogging, simple past and past participle fogged)
present singular third person fogs · participle present fogging · participle past fogged · past fogged
- transitiveTo pasture cattle on the fog (of), or aftergrass, of; to eat off the fog from (a field).
- intransitiveTo become covered with the kind of grass called fog.
fog3
verbfog (third-person singular simple present fogs, present participle fogging, simple past and past participle fogged)
present singular third person fogs · participle present fogging · participle past fogged · past fogged
- intransitiveobsoleteTo practice in a small or mean way; to pettifog.
Where wouldst thou fog to get a fee?
a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The Counter Scuffle”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC
FOG4
nounFOG (uncountable)
- abbreviationinitialismuncountableInitialism of frequency of gobbledygook: the commonness of long and complicated words in a text, as measured by systems like the Gunning fog index.
adjectiveFOG (not comparable)
- abbreviationinitialismnot comparableInitialism of fraudulently-obtained genuine, a type of illicit passport.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA mist or film clouding a surface.
Similar
verbTo become obscured in condensation or water.
Similar
become cloudybecome steamy
nounA new growth of grass appearing on a field that has been mowed or grazed.
Similar
nounTall and decaying grass left standing after the cutting or grazing season.
Similar
More synonyms by meaning
nounan atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance
Broader
atmosphereatmospheric state
nounconfusion characterized by lack of clarity
Broader
verbmake less visible or unclear
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
fog · noun, verb
- Proto-Indo-European*pug-“billow, bulge, drift”
- Proto-Germanic*feukaną“to whisk, blow”
- Danishfog“spray, shower, drift, storm”
- North Germanic
- Englishfog
Origin uncertain; but probably of North Germanic origin. Probably either a back-formation from foggy (“covered with tall grass; thick, marshy”), from the earlier-attested fog (“tall grass”) (see below), or from or related to Danish fog (“spray, shower, drift, storm”), related to Icelandic fok (“spray, any light thing tossed by the wind, snowdrift”), Icelandic fjúka (“to blow, drive”), from Proto-Germanic *feukaną (“to whisk, blow”), from Proto-Indo-European *pug- (“billow, bulge, drift”), from *pew-, *pow- (“to blow, drift, billow”), in which case related to German fauchen (“to hiss, spit, spray”).
More words from North Germanic, Danish, Proto-Germanic
Full word history & related roots →fog · noun, verb
- Middle Englishfogge“tall grass”
- Englishfog
From Middle English fogge (“tall grass”), probably from Norwegian fogg (“tall, worthless grass”); compare Scots fog (“moss; lichen”).
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans mis
- miscloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Ancient Greek ὀμίχλη
- ὀμίχλη (omíkhlē)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Arabic ضَبَاب, شبورة
- ضَبَاب (ḍabāb)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- شبورة (šabbūra)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- ضباب (ḍabāb)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- ضباب (ḍabāb)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- ضباب (ḍbāb)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- ضبابة (ḍbāba)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Basque lanbro
- lanbrocloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Bengali কুয়াশা
- কুয়াশা (kuẏaśa)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Bulgarian мъгла́, замъгля́ване
- мъгла́ (măglá)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- замъгля́ване (zamăgljávane)mist or film clouding a surface
- воа́л (voál)photography: blur on a developed photographic image
- замъглявам се (zamăgljavam se)to become covered with or as if with fog
- замъглявам се (zamăgljavam se)to become obscured in condensation or water
- замъглявам (zamăgljavam)to cover with or as if with fog
- замъглявам (zamăgljavam)to obscure in condensation or water
- отава (otava)new growth of grass appearing on a field that has been mowed or grazed
Catalan boira, emboirar-se
- boiracloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- emboirar-seto become covered with or as if with fog
Chinese ву, вучи
- ву (vu)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- вучи (vuqi)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- 霧 /雾 (bū)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- 霧氣 /雾气 (bū-khì)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- 雺 (bông)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Chinese Cantonese 霧 /雾, 霧氣 /雾气
- 霧 /雾 (mou⁶)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- 霧氣 /雾气 (mou⁶ hei³)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Chinese Mandarin 霧 /雾, 霧氣 /雾气
- 霧 /雾 (wù)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- 霧氣 /雾气 (wùqì)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Czech mlha, zamlžení
- mlhacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- zamlženístate of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
- zamlžit seto become covered with or as if with fog
- zamlžit seto become obscured in condensation or water
- zapařit seto become obscured in condensation or water
- orosit seto become obscured in condensation or water
- zamlžitto cover with or as if with fog
- zamlžitto obscure in condensation or water
- zamlžitto make confusing or obscure
Danish tåge, tåge
- tågecloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- tågestate of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
Dutch mist, nevel
- mistcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- nevelcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Esperanto nebulo
- nebulocloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Estonian udu
- uducloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Finnish sumu, sumu
- sumucloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- sumumist or film clouding a surface
- sumustate of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
- sumuphotography: blur on a developed photographic image
- sumetato become covered with or as if with fog
- huurtuato become obscured in condensation or water
- sumetaphotography: to become dim or obscure
- himmetäphotography: to become dim or obscure
- sumentaaphotography: to make dim or obscure
- peittää sumuunto cover with or as if with fog
- huurtaato obscure in condensation or water
- sumentaato make confusing or obscure
- jälkikasvunew growth of grass appearing on a field that has been mowed or grazed
French brouillard, brume
- brouillardcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- brumecloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- voilephotography: blur on a developed photographic image
German Nebel, sich beschlagen
- Nebelcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- sich beschlagento become obscured in condensation or water
- anlaufento become obscured in condensation or water
Greek ομίχλη
- ομίχλη (omíchli)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Hawaiian 'ohu
- 'ohucloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Hebrew עֲרָפֶל, ערפול
- עֲרָפֶל (arafél)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- ערפול (irpul)state of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
Hindi कुहरा, धुंध
- कुहरा (kuhrā)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- धुंध (dhundh)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- कोहरा (kohrā)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Hungarian köd, fátyol
- ködcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- fátyolphotography: blur on a developed photographic image
- ködbe borulto become covered with or as if with fog
- bepárásodikto become obscured in condensation or water
- elhomályosulto become obscured in condensation or water
- fátyolos leszphotography: to become dim or obscure
- fátyolossá teszphotography: to make dim or obscure
- ködbe borítto cover with or as if with fog
- elpárásítto obscure in condensation or water
- elhomályosítto obscure in condensation or water
- elködösítto make confusing or obscure
- elhomályosítto make confusing or obscure
- összekuszálto make confusing or obscure
Icelandic þoka
- þokacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Indonesian kabut
- kabutcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Iranian Persian مِهْ, میغ
- مِهْ (meh)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- میغ (miġ)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- تَمَن (taman)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Irish ceo
- ceocloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Italian nebbia, annebbiarsi
- nebbiacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- annebbiarsito become covered with or as if with fog
- appannarsito become obscured in condensation or water
- annebbiareto cover with or as if with fog
- appannareto obscure in condensation or water
- guaimenew growth of grass appearing on a field that has been mowed or grazed
- guaimetall and decaying grass left standing after the cutting or grazing season
Japanese 霧, 霞み
- 霧 (kiri)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- 霞み (kasumi)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Korean 안개
- 안개 (an'gae)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Latin cālīgō, nebula
- cālīgōcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- nebulacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Latvian migla, dūmaka
- miglacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- dūmakacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Lithuanian rūkas, migla
- rūkascloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- miglacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- ūkanacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Malay kabus, kabut
- kabuscloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- kabutcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- kelirustate of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
Māori kohu, tuarehu
- kohucloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- tuarehucloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Norwegian dugg, uklarhet
- duggmist or film clouding a surface
- uklarhetstate of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
- uskarphetphotography: blur on a developed photographic image
- duggeto become obscured in condensation or water
- duggeto cover with or as if with fog
- tåkeleggeto make confusing or obscure
Norwegian Bokmål tåke, skodde
- tåkecloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- skoddecloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Polish mgła
- mgłacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Portuguese nevoeiro, névoa
- nevoeirocloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- névoacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- neblinacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Punjabi ਧੁੰਦ
- ਧੁੰਦ (dhund)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Romanian ceață, negură
- ceațăcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- negurăcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- ceațămist or film clouding a surface
- aburealămist or film clouding a surface
- înnegurato become covered with or as if with fog
- încețoșatto become obscured in condensation or water
- încețoșatphotography: to become dim or obscure
- încețoșaphotography: to make dim or obscure
- încețoșato cover with or as if with fog
- încețoșato obscure in condensation or water
- încețoșato make confusing or obscure
Russian тума́н, мгла
- тума́н (tumán)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- мгла (mgla)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- затума́ниваться (zatumánivatʹsja)to become covered with or as if with fog
- запотева́ть (zapotevátʹ)to become obscured in condensation or water
- затума́нивать (zatumánivatʹ)to cover with or as if with fog
Scottish Gaelic ceò, ceò
- ceòcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- ceòmist or film clouding a surface
- ceòstate of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
- ceòphotography: blur on a developed photographic image
Slovak hmla
- hmlacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Spanish niebla
- nieblacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Swahili ukungu
- ukungucloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Swedish dimma, dimma
- dimmacloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- dimmamist or film clouding a surface
- oklarhetstate of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
- villrådighetstate of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion
- slöjaphotography: blur on a developed photographic image
- suddighetphotography: blur on a developed photographic image
- göra suddigphotography: to make dim or obscure
- förmörkato make confusing or obscure
- omtöcknato make confusing or obscure
- efterslåtternew growth of grass appearing on a field that has been mowed or grazed
- fjolårsgrästall and decaying grass left standing after the cutting or grazing season
- kvarstående vintergrästall and decaying grass left standing after the cutting or grazing season
Tagalog hamog
- hamogcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Tamil மூடுபனி, பனிமூட்டம்
- மூடுபனி (mūṭupaṉi)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- பனிமூட்டம் (paṉimūṭṭam)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- மஞ்சு (mañcu)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Thai หมอก
- หมอก (mɔ̀ɔk)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Turkish sis
- siscloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Ukrainian тума́н, імла́
- тума́н (tumán)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- імла́ (imlá)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Urdu کُوہْرا, دھُنْد
- کُوہْرا (kūhrā)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- دھُنْد (dhund)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- دُھنْدھ (dhundh)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Vietnamese sương mù
- sương mùcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Welsh caddug, niwl
- caddugcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
- niwlcloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Yiddish נעפּל
- נעפּל (nepl)cloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Zulu inkungu
- inkungucloud that forms at a low altitude and obscures vision
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with fog
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
fog. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fog
MLA
“fog.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fog. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fog,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fog.
Source: fog on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.