Definition of mood

Short definition: The word mood describes your emotional state at a moment, like feeling happy, tired, annoyed, or calm, and in slang it is also used to say “I feel this” when something perfectly matches your feelings.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word mood? The word mood is used constantly in everyday English to talk about how someone feels emotionally. It can describe short term feelings, general emotional states, or even the atmosphere of a place or moment. In modern slang, it is also used as a quick reaction to say something feels relatable. Because it is simple but flexible, mood appears in casual chats, mental health talk, and online comments. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, so it feels human, clear, and easy to use correctly.

Forms: mood, moods
Related: feeling n., emotion n., vibe n.
Syllable: mood

1. (Noun) The emotional state someone is in at a particular moment.

   A mood is how someone feels emotionally at a certain time, such as happy, sad, calm, annoyed, or excited, and it can change quickly depending on events, thoughts, or energy levels.

   He was in a good mood all morning, smiling and joking with everyone he met at work.
   Her mood changed after the meeting, and she became quiet for the rest of the day.
   Getting enough sleep helps keep your mood more balanced and stable.

   Synonyms: emotional state, feeling, state of mind, emotional condition, mindset, disposition, temperament, emotional tone, inner state, frame of mind, emotional vibe, mental state
   Antonyms: emotional numbness, lack of feeling, indifference, neutrality, emotional flatness, emptiness, no reaction, blank state, emotional void, detachment, apathy, disinterest

2. (Noun) The general emotional atmosphere of a place situation or moment.

   Mood can also describe the overall emotional feeling of a room, event, or situation, such as a relaxed mood at a café or a tense mood during an argument.

   Soft music and warm lighting helped create a calm mood in the restaurant.
   The sudden silence changed the mood of the room completely.
   The movie’s dark colors and slow pacing set a serious mood from the start.

   Synonyms: atmosphere, vibe, tone, feeling, ambiance, emotional setting, overall feel, energy, climate, emotional background, scene feeling, general tone
   Antonyms: flat atmosphere, dull setting, neutral tone, lifeless feel, empty vibe, emotionless space, bland mood, dry atmosphere, no energy, plain setting, stillness, silence

3. (Noun) A temporary emotional tendency such as being playful angry or romantic.

   Sometimes mood refers to a short lived emotional tendency, like being in the mood to joke, relax, argue, or focus, often used with phrases like “in the mood for.”

   She was not in the mood to talk after such a long and stressful day.
   He woke up in a productive mood and finished all his tasks early.
   They were in the mood for something light and funny, not a serious movie.

   Synonyms: inclination, emotional readiness, feeling like, desire state, temporary feeling, mental readiness, short term feeling, current vibe, emotional leaning, present mindset, active feeling, momentary state
   Antonyms: reluctance, resistance, unwillingness, lack of interest, emotional block, refusal feeling, disinterest, hesitation, emotional shutdown, lack of desire, no motivation, emotional resistance

4. (Slang) A reaction meaning something feels relatable or perfectly matches a feeling.

   In slang, people say mood to react to something that strongly matches how they feel, often used alone in comments or messages to say “this is exactly how I feel.”

   When she saw the tired cat photo, she commented mood because it matched how exhausted she felt.
   He replied mood to the tweet about needing coffee just to survive the day.
   That meme was a total mood for anyone working late again.

   Synonyms: relatable, same feeling, this is me, accurate vibe, I feel that, that’s me, shared feeling, exact feeling, big relate, true vibe, same energy, matching feeling
   Antonyms: not relatable, can’t relate, different feeling, mismatch, no connection, unfamiliar vibe, opposite energy, not me, unrelated, off feeling, no similarity, disconnected response