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wistful

[ wist-fuhl ]

/ ˈwɪst fəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wistful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characterized by melancholy; longing; yearning.

pensive, especially in a melancholy way.

Origin of wistful

1605–15; obsolete wist quiet, silent, attentive (variant of whist²) + -ful

SYNONYMS FOR wistful

2 reflective, musing, meditative, forlorn.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wistful ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM wistful

wist·ful·ly, adverb wist·ful·ness, noun un·wist·ful, adjective un·wist·ful·ly, adverb

un·wist·ful·ness, noun

Words nearby wistful

wissler, wissler's syndrome, wist, wister, wisteria, wistful, wisła, wit, witan, witblits, witch

Example sentences from the Web for wistful

But for much of the country, these fleeting moments of wistful longing happen in the everyday-low-prices aisles of Walmart.

Heartache by the Numbers and OkCupid’s Founder Has Got Yours |Will Doig |October 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It makes me feel sort of hopeful, and I have a wistful sort of longing for it.

Joy Reid, MSNBC Anchor, on the Racism of the Tea Party, Family Dramas, and Why She Loves Boxing |Lloyd Grove |March 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Naomi Watts plays Diana as a sweet-natured, wistful, half-wit.

Princess Diana Was the Girlfriend From Hell. Why Is This Movie So Boring? |Tina Brown |November 4, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
This puts into wistful perspective the developing consensus that we should do something about it.

Climate Change is Here, Ready or Not. So What Now? |Eugene Linden |March 30, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

Andy likes watching the toddlers, but he is wistful about his old life, and somewhat defensive about his new one.

Hanna Rosin’s The End of Men Turned Me Into a Caricature |Andy Hinds |September 29, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Her earnest face brightened with a wistful yet pleasant smile.

An Engagement of Convenience |Louis Zangwill
"I think it is beautiful," Connie said softly, and her lips drooped a little, and a wistful pathos crept into her voice.

Prudence Says So |Ethel Hueston
"'Twould be nice," she breathed, her grey eyes wide with wistful pleasure.

The Lee Shore |Rose Macaulay
A mild and wistful pang, which McLean refused to name, made itself known.

The Fortieth Door |Mary Hastings Bradley
Yet, Graeme watched her sister next day, and for many days, with eyes which even Fanny could see were wistful and anxious.

Janet's Love and Service |Margaret M Robertson

British Dictionary definitions for wistful

wistful

/ (ˈwɪstfʊl) /

adjective

sadly pensive, esp about something yearned for

Derived forms of wistful

wistfully, adverb wistfulness, noun