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
storing files in the cloud
—often used before another nouncloud 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
CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
In short, the toxic cloud of judgment that Borgli seeks to interrogate has settled around and polluted the reception to the movie itself, forming a kind of life-versus-art ouroboros that, in the eyes of the most cynical marketeers, might seem less a blow than an opportunity.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Shah says her business judgment was clouded in part by other circumstances in her life, including a separation from her husband.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cloud
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Low clouds and a steady drizzle gave fielders trouble with flyballs, leading to a third-inning Royals run when India's two-out infield popup fell untouched, scoring Vinnie Pasquantino from second.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
In short, the toxic cloud of judgment that Borgli seeks to interrogate has settled around and polluted the reception to the movie itself, forming a kind of life-versus-art ouroboros that, in the eyes of the most cynical marketeers, might seem less a blow than an opportunity.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
The war in Iran has clouded the outlook, and most economists say the impact of the war and higher energy prices were probably not fully reflected in the March jobs numbers.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Shah says her business judgment was clouded in part by other circumstances in her life, including a separation from her husband.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cloud
Cite this Entry
“Cloud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloud. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cloud
1 of 2 noun1
: 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 verb1
: 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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