mood

The word “mood” means a temporary state of mind or feeling. In plain terms, how someone is feeling right now, or the atmosphere something creates.

“Mood” is pronounced mood (/muːd/ in IPA).

Here is “mood” used in a sentence: “She was in a great mood after getting the good news.”

“Mood” is a noun.

The word “mood” comes from Old English. From Old English mod, meaning "mind, spirit, or courage" — the word originally leaned more toward "temperament" and "bravery" than today's narrower sense of a passing feeling.

“Mood” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Mood” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a temporary state of mind or feeling.

An emotion is usually short and intense, triggered by something specific — fear at a sudden noise, joy at good news. A mood is milder and longer-lasting, and often has no obvious single cause; you can simply feel cheerful or irritable all day. Emotions spike and fade; moods linger in the background.

A mood is temporary — how you feel today or this hour. Temperament is your stable, long-term nature, the general disposition you are born with and carry through life, such as being calm, anxious or cheerful by default. Moods come and go; temperament stays largely the same over the years.

Yes. Although moods can feel like they arrive on their own, they respond to many everyday factors. Sleep, exercise, food, sunlight, music and time with other people can all lift a low mood, while stress and tiredness tend to lower it. Small changes to routine often shift how you feel.

In modern slang, calling something 'a mood' means it feels instantly relatable — it captures a feeling you recognise in yourself. Someone might post a tired-looking cat and comment 'me, honestly, a whole mood.' It is a light, affectionate way of saying 'that perfectly sums up how I feel.'