adjective

wistful

/ˈwɪstfəl/ · say it: WIS·tfuhl

full of yearning tinged with sadness

In more detail

1. (adjective) feeling a gentle sadness or longing, often for something in the past or something you want but cannot have

2. (adjective) showing this feeling in your expression or manner

Examples

1. She had a wistful look as she watched the old photographs from her childhood.
2. He spoke in a wistful tone about the days when he used to travel.

How to use wistful

Wistful describes a tender, bittersweet emotion rather than deep sadness or acute longing; it often carries a passive, contemplative quality and is commonly used in literary or reflective contexts. Unlike nostalgia, which explicitly refers to the past, wistful can express longing for something unattainable or unrealized. It conveys resignation mixed with gentle desire.

Common phrases

wistful smile
wistful look
wistful sigh
wistful expression
feel wistful
wistful mood

Synonyms

nostalgic · longing · yearning · pensive · melancholic

Opposites

cheerful · content · satisfied

Word family

wistfully (adverb) · wistfulness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use wistful to describe intense or dramatic yearning, when it actually denotes a softer, more subdued emotional quality.

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