Illustration of cloud
- 1 cirrus
- 2 cirrostratus
- 3 cirrocumulus
- 4 altostratus
- 5 altocumulus
- 6 stratocumulus
- 7 nimbostratus
- 8 cumulus
- 9 cumulonimbus
- 10 stratus
1
: a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (such as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (such as the earth) or moon
2
: something resembling or suggesting a cloud: such as
a
: a light filmy, puffy, or billowy mass seeming to float in the air
a cloud of blond hair
a ship under a cloud of sail
b(1)
: a usually visible mass of minute particles suspended in the air or a gas
(2)
: an aggregation of usually obscuring matter especially in interstellar space
(3)
: an aggregate of charged particles (such as electrons)
c
: a great crowd or multitude : swarm
clouds of mosquitoes
3
: something that has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect
clouds of war
a cloud of suspicion
4
: something that obscures or blemishes
a cloud of ambiguity
5
: a dark or opaque vein or spot (as in marble or a precious stone)
6
: the computers and connections that support cloud computing
—often used before another noun
storing files in the cloud
cloud storage/backup
cloud software
clouded; clouding; clouds
1
: to grow cloudy
—usually used with over or up
clouded over before the storm
2
a
of facial features : to become troubled, apprehensive, or distressed in appearance
her face clouded with worry
b
: to become blurry, dubious, or ominous
—often used with over
the outlook is clouding over
3
: to billow up in the form of a cloud
1
a
: to envelop or hide with or as if with a cloud
b
: to make opaque especially by condensation of moisture
steam clouded the windows
c
: to make murky especially with smoke or mist
smoke clouded the sky
2
: to make unclear or confused
cloud the issue
4
: to cast gloom over
cloud prospects for success
Examples of cloud in a Sentence
Noun The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky. flying high above the clouds It stopped raining and the sun poked through the clouds. a cloud of cigarette smoke The team has been under a cloud since its members were caught cheating. There's a cloud of controversy hanging over the election. Verb greed clouding the minds of men These new ideas only cloud the issue further. The final years of her life were clouded by illness.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026 Highs will be about 10 degrees below average in the 50s with clouds and breezy winds from the east and northeast gusting to 25 mph. —Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Sarah Dean, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026 Has the day perhaps clouded my judgment? —Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cloud
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Like a jet plane leaving a contrail, a green line began to move across the sky and spread into dancing clouds. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026 Highs will be about 10 degrees below average in the 50s with clouds and breezy winds from the east and northeast gusting to 25 mph. —Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
The price of crude oil rose to more than $105 a barrel in early trading today as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz continues to cloud the market's long- and medium-term outlook. —Sarah Dean, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026 Has the day perhaps clouded my judgment? —Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cloud
Cite this Entry
“Cloud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/cloud. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cloud
1 of 2 noun
1
: a visible mass of particles of water or ice in the form of fog, mist, or haze usually high in the air
2
a
: a usually visible mass of tiny particles in the air or bits of matter between stars
b
: a group of charged particles (as electrons)
3
: something resembling or thought to be like a cloud
a cloud of mosquitoes
under a cloud of suspicion
4
: something that appears dark or threatening
clouds of war
5
: the computers and connections that support cloud computing
storing files in the cloud
cloudless
adjective
-ləs
cloud
2 of 2 verb
1
: to make or become cloudy
2
: to darken or hide with or as if by a cloud
smog clouded our view
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