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mood
/muːd/
state of mind
I'm not in the mood to go out tonight.
I do not feel like going out because of my current emotional state.
general
A temporary state of mind or feeling.
She's in a great mood after receiving good news.
She feels very happy because of the positive news.
The dark weather put me in a gloomy mood.
The sad weather made me feel sad.
Can be positive, negative, or neutral. Often used to describe how someone feels in a specific moment.
general
A prevailing emotional tone or atmosphere.
The movie captured the mood of the 1920s perfectly.
The film accurately represented the emotional atmosphere of the 1920s.
Common in artistic or descriptive contexts to describe the emotional quality of a setting, event, or work.
Collocations
in the mood forfeeling like doing somethinggood moodhappy or cheerful statebad moodangry or unhappy state
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'mood' for strong emotions
While 'mood' can describe any emotion, it often implies a mild or temporary state. For intense emotions, consider words like 'rage' or 'ecstasy'.
Gold Rule
Use 'mood' for temporary states
'Mood' suggests a passing emotional state, not a permanent trait. Say 'She is usually cheerful' instead of 'She is in a cheerful mood' for habitual traits.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'mode' (manner, way), from Old French 'mode' (manner, way), from Latin 'modus' (measure, manner). The sense of 'state of mind' emerged in the 17th century.
Usage Notes
Used broadly in everyday speech to describe emotions or the emotional tone of environments. Often paired with 'in' (e.g., 'in a mood').
English Dictionary