cloudy
/ˈklaʊ.di/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Cloudy weather has many clouds and little sunshine. A cloudy liquid or glass is not clear enough to see through easily.
- It was cloudy all morning.
- The water looked cloudy after the storm.
- I think it will stay cloudy today.
Adinary Nuance
Cloudy is mainly used for weather or for things you cannot see through clearly. It is different from overcast, which is more formal and usually means the sky is completely covered with clouds. It is also different from foggy, which suggests mist in the air and poorer visibility. For liquids, cloudy means not clear, while murky can sound darker or dirtier.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- có mây
- Spanish
- nublado
- Chinese
- 多云
- Japanese
- 曇りの
- Korean
- 흐린
Etymology
Cloudy comes from cloud, with the adjective ending -y. It has been used in English since Old English times to describe weather and unclear things.
Common phrases
cloudy skiescloudy weathercloudy visioncloudy water
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is cloudy a formal word?
- No. It is a common everyday word, especially for weather.
- What is the difference between cloudy and overcast?
- Cloudy is more general. Overcast usually means the sky is fully covered with clouds.
- Can cloudy describe drinks or liquids?
- Yes. It means the liquid is not clear or transparent.
- Is cloudy used in academic writing?
- Yes, especially in weather reports, science, and descriptive writing.