mood

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈmüd 

1

: a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion : feeling

He's been in a good mood all week.

also : the expression of mood especially in art or literature

2

archaic : a fit of anger : rage

3

a

: a prevailing attitude

the kind of mood that fostered the Salem witch trials

—Nat Hentoff

b

: a receptive state of mind predisposing to action

was not in a giving mood at the time

c

: a distinctive atmosphere or context : aura

the weary city's sullen mood

—Marilyn Stasio

the mood is quiet and sleepy, as guests pick blueberries and read by the pond

—J. O. Nixon

mood

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: the form of a syllogism as determined by the quantity and quality of its constituent propositions

2

: distinction of form or a particular set of inflectional forms of a verb to express whether the action or state it denotes is conceived as fact or in some other manner (such as command, possibility, or wish)

3

: mode sense 1b

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• cheer
• feather
• humor
• mode
• spirit
• temper

Examples of mood in a Sentence

Noun (1)

losing my favorite sweater left me in a bad mood for the rest of the day

there's a haunting mood of melancholy about the ruined old castle

in his mood, the king spared no one his venomous tongue

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The mood in the control room was generally lighthearted, two former agents say. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 May 2024

Exercise releases the mood regulators dopamine and serotonin, Ulrick Vieux, DO, a sports psychiatrist at Hackensack University Medical Center, told Health. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 May 2024

The mood was upbeat, with most people saying Russia's incursion on the new front will not scare them to flee the city. —Fox News, 13 May 2024

Boredom, anxiety, and despair are some of the descriptions these moods have received. —Maria Balaska, TIME, 12 May 2024

Another lingering question is whether the belugas are making shapes on purpose, or whether this behavior is merely a reflex that reflects their mood, per Science News. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 May 2024

The mood was a bit boisterous, but not enough to disrupt the sleep of baby Hamza, who was born two weeks earlier at a hospital in the Central American city. —Carol Rosenberg Natalie Keyssar, New York Times, 9 May 2024

As the final results came in late Tuesday, the mood among proponents at a KCK watch party turned from cautious optimism to disappointment. —Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024

And despite all the alcohol introduced to the mix by the many on-site bars, the mood never felt tense. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English mōd; akin to Old High German muot mood

Noun (2)

alteration of mode entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mood

• in the mood
• mood board
• mood disorder
• mood music
• mood swing
• the mood takes someone

Kids Definition

mood

1 of 2 noun

ˈmüd 

1

: an emotional state of mind or feeling

also : the feeling expressed in a work of art or literature

2

: a dominant attitude or spirit

the mood of the country was optimistic

3

: a distinctive atmosphere or context

the dark mood of the movie

mood

2 of 2 noun

: a set of forms of a verb that show whether the action or state expressed is to be thought of as a fact, a command, or a wish or possibility

Etymology

Noun

Old English mōd "a state of mind"

Noun

an altered form of mode

Medical Definition

mood

noun

ˈmüd 

: a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion : affective state : feeling sense 3