Finesentence logo

Wistful: meaning, definitions and examples

😔
Add to dictionary

wistful

 

[ ˈwɪstfʊl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.

Synonyms

longing, nostalgic, pensive, yearning

Examples of usage

  • She gazed wistfully out of the window.
  • He had a wistful expression on his face.
  • The wistful tone of her voice revealed her sadness.
  • I felt wistful as I remembered the good times we had together.
  • The old photograph made her feel wistful for her youth.
Context #2 | Adjective

appearance

Having a pensive or melancholy expression or nature.

Synonyms

melancholic, mournful, reflective, thoughtful

Examples of usage

  • She had a wistful smile on her face.
  • His eyes had a wistful look as he watched the sunset.

Translations

Translations of the word "wistful" in other languages:

🇵🇹 saudoso

🇮🇳 उदास

🇩🇪 sehnsüchtig

🇮🇩 rindu

🇺🇦 тужливий

🇵🇱 tęskny

🇯🇵 物思いにふける

🇫🇷 nostalgique

🇪🇸 nostálgico

🇹🇷 özlem dolu

🇰🇷 그리움에 잠긴

🇸🇦 شاعر بالحنين

🇨🇿 toužebný

🇸🇰 túžobný

🇨🇳 渴望的

🇸🇮 hrepeneč

🇮🇸 þrá

🇰🇿 сағынышты

🇬🇪 მოწყენილი

🇦🇿 həsrətli

🇲🇽 nostálgico

Etymology

The word 'wistful' originated in the early 17th century from the obsolete verb 'wist,' which means 'to know' or 'to be aware of.' Over time, 'wistful' evolved to describe a feeling of longing or melancholy. The term is often associated with a sense of nostalgia or regretful reflection.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,742, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.