Definition

Verb: 1. To become covered with a thin layer of water droplets, obscuring vision: This describes the process where a clear surface, like glass or a landscape, becomes obscured because moisture in the air condenses on it, forming a mist or fog. 2. To become blurred or clouded, as if by mist: This can be used figuratively to describe vision (e.g., eyes filling with tears) or abstract concepts becoming unclear.

Usage and Examples

• The car's windshield will mist over quickly in the cold rain if you don't use the defroster.
• Her glasses misted over when she came in from the cold into the warm house.
• (Figurative) As she listened to the sad story, her eyes misted over with tears.
• (Figurative) The details of that old memory have misted over with time.

Advanced Usage

• Causative Form ("mist something over"): To cause a surface to become covered with mist.
  • The steam from the kettle misted over the kitchen window.

Variants and Related Words

• Mist (verb): To cover or be covered with mist. (e.g., )
• Misty (adjective): Full of or covered with mist; vague or blurred. (e.g., )
• Fog up: A near-synonymous phrasal verb, often used interchangeably with "mist over" for surfaces like glass. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Cloud over
• Steam up
• Fog up
• Film over

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Mist up: Functionally identical to "mist over" in most contexts.
  • My sunglasses always mist up when I wear a mask.

Related Idioms

• (Eyes) mist over: A common idiom describing eyes becoming tearful.
  • His eyes misted over when he spoke about his childhood home.

Verb

1. become covered with mist
   • The windshield misted over