adjective
dewy
DYOO-ee
Dewy (adjective) means Covered with tiny drops of moisture, as grass or leaves are in the early morning. Example: “They walked barefoot across the dewy lawn at sunrise.”
adjective
1
Covered with tiny drops of moisture, as grass or leaves are in the early morning.
"They walked barefoot across the dewy lawn at sunrise."
"Her boots were soaked from the dewy field."
2
Having a soft, fresh, moist look, often used of skin or eyes.
"The actress had a dewy complexion that the camera loved."
"His eyes went dewy at the sight of the old photograph."
How to use dewy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDamp with dew, or (for skin/eyes) looking fresh, moist, and glowing.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "doughy" (soft like dough) — they look similar in print but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
doughy
Common pairings
dewy morning
dewy grass
dewy skin
dewy-eyed
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Word forms
- Comparative
- dewier, more dewy
- Superlative
- dewiest, most dewy
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They walked barefoot across the _____ lawn at sunrise.
Etymology
From Old English deawig, built from dew plus the adjective ending -y — the same pattern as sunny from sun or rainy from rain.
Synonyms
View more →
bedewed
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dewy
See all rhymes for dewy →Frequently asked questions
What does “dewy” mean?
The word “dewy” means covered with tiny drops of moisture, as grass or leaves are in the early morning. In plain terms, damp with dew, or (for skin/eyes) looking fresh, moist, and glowing.
How do you pronounce “dewy”?
“Dewy” is pronounced DYOO-ee (/ˈdjuː.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “dewy” in a sentence?
Here is “dewy” used in a sentence: “They walked barefoot across the dewy lawn at sunrise.”
What part of speech is “dewy”?
“Dewy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “dewy” come from?
The word “dewy” comes from Old English. From Old English deawig, built from dew plus the adjective ending -y — the same pattern as sunny from sun or rainy from rain.
How many meanings does “dewy” have?
“Dewy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered with tiny drops of moisture, as grass or leaves are in the early morning.
