adjective
grayish
GRAY-ish
Grayish (adjective) means Somewhat gray in colour. Example: “The sky turned a grayish colour before the storm broke.”
adjective
1
Somewhat gray in colour.
"The sky turned a grayish colour before the storm broke."
"Her old coat had faded to a grayish shade of blue."
"The walls were painted a plain grayish white."
How to use grayish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA colour that's not quite gray but close to it.
When to use it
The -ish ending makes the description approximate rather than exact, so it suits casual, everyday descriptions.
Memory tip
If you're not sure whether something is properly gray, grayish is the safer, softer word to reach for.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
grayish blue
grayish hue
grayish light
a grayish tinge
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The sky turned a _____ colour before the storm broke.
Etymology
Grayish is formed from the colour word gray with the suffix -ish added to it. The suffix softens the meaning, so the word describes something that leans toward gray rather than being fully gray.
Rhymes for grayish
See all rhymes for grayish →Frequently asked questions
What does grayish mean?
It means somewhat gray, rather than a pure or definite gray.
Is grayish the same as greyish?
Yes, grayish and greyish are alternative spellings of the same word with the same meaning.
What part of speech is grayish?
It is an adjective, used to describe the colour of something.
What is the meaning of grayish?
"grayish" (adjective) means somewhat gray in colour.
