Word of the day · 16 August 2026
wistful
/ˈwɪstfəl/
adjective
Having or showing a gentle longing, often mixed with sadness.
In a sentence
- He gave the old stadium a wistful look before it closed.
- Her wistful smile suggested a story she did not tell.
- Autumn light makes even new streets feel wistful.
In an image
Origin
From older English wistly (intently) with -ful; later associated with wishful longing.
History
Early wistful leaned toward attentive or close watching. By the 1700s and 1800s the sense settled on pensive desire. Romantic poetry and novels fixed the modern tone of mild melancholy. It remains the right word when nostalgia is quiet rather than dramatic.
Nearby words
yearning · pensive · nostalgic
Soft yearning for what is past or out of reach.