adjective
C2
Proficient
wistful
WIHST-fuhl
Wistful (adjective) means Filled with a gentle sadness or longing, especially for something in the past. Example: “She gave a wistful smile as she looked through the old photographs.”
adjective
1
Filled with a gentle sadness or longing, especially for something in the past.
"She gave a wistful smile as she looked through the old photographs."
"He spoke in a wistful tone about his childhood home."
How to use wistful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quiet, sad kind of longing, often for something now gone.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with wishful — wistful is about sad longing or nostalgia, wishful is about hopeful (often unrealistic) desire.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a wistful smile
a wistful sigh
wistful memories
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more wistful
- Superlative
- most wistful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She gave a _____ smile as she looked through the old photographs.
Etymology
Probably built from the older word whist ("silent") plus -ful, though its meaning was shaped over time by association with "wishful."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for wistful
See all rhymes for wistful →Frequently asked questions
What does “wistful” mean?
The word “wistful” means filled with a gentle sadness or longing, especially for something in the past. In plain terms, a quiet, sad kind of longing, often for something now gone.
How do you pronounce “wistful”?
“Wistful” is pronounced WIHST-fuhl (/ˈwɪstfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “wistful” in a sentence?
Here is “wistful” used in a sentence: “She gave a wistful smile as she looked through the old photographs.”
What part of speech is “wistful”?
“Wistful” is an adjective.
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