moody
adjective
What moody means
Having moods that change quickly, often becoming unhappy or angry without a clear reason.
My brother is moody in the morning.
Teenagers can be moody.
Test yourself
Five questions about moody
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Question 1 of 5Meaning
What does moody mean?
A moody person can be cheerful one moment and upset or cross the next, and you often cannot tell why their feelings changed.
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Question 2 of 5Situation
Your sister laughs and jokes at breakfast, then shouts at everyone ten minutes later for no clear reason. She is very…
Her feelings change quickly from happy to angry without a reason, and that is what moody means. A loyal, humble or considerate person would not behave like this.
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Question 3 of 5Gap
Our cat is a bit ___: sometimes she wants to be stroked, and sometimes she bites.
The cat changes from friendly to angry without a clear reason, so moody describes her best. Polite and patient describe calm, steady behaviour, and humble means not proud.
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Question 4 of 5Similar word
Which word is closest in meaning to moody?
A temperamental person’s mood changes quickly and they get upset easily, just like a moody person. Sentimental is about memories and love, not changing moods.
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Question 5 of 5Correct use
Which sentence uses moody correctly?
Moody is an adjective, so it follows is: he is moody. The noun is mood, as in a bad mood, and a moody person is not calm and happy all the time.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer, Enter goes on.
Moody in a sentence
5 more examples of moody in everyday situations.
- At work
Our manager can be moody, so we wait until after lunch to ask for anything.
- Saying sorry
Sorry I was so moody yesterday; I didn’t sleep well.
- A pet
Our cat is moody and only wants attention when she’s hungry.
- Relationships
He’s sweet one day and moody the next, which is hard to live with.
- Health
A lack of sleep can make anyone tired and moody.
How to use moody
A moody person may be happy one minute and upset the next. Moody is mostly negative: it suggests the person is hard to predict. Mood is the noun: in a good mood, in a bad mood.
A moody film or picture has a dark, thoughtful atmosphere.
Forms
- moodiercomparative
- moodiestsuperlative
- moodilyadverb
- moodinessnoun
- moodrelated noun
Patterns
- be moody (with someone)
- get moody
- a moody teenager
- moody and + adjective (moody and quiet)
Common mistakes with moody
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NotHe is in a moody today.
SayHe is moody today. / He is in a bad mood today.
Moody is an adjective; mood is the noun.
Moody or grumpy or in a bad mood?
- moody or grumpy
- Grumpy means bad-tempered for a short time, often for a clear reason like tiredness. Moody suggests your mood changes often and without warning, so people never know what to expect.
- moody or in a bad mood
- Someone in a bad mood is unhappy right now, for this moment. A moody person often changes from happy to unhappy, so moody describes a habit.
Moody is a C1 word. Is that your level? Take the level test or count the words you know.
Moody word family and collocations
The words that go with moody, so you can use it in a whole phrase.
Common collocations
- a moody teenager
- in a mood
- moody and quiet
- moody weather
- a moody film
Word family
- moody (adjective)
- mood (noun)
- moodily (adverb)
Similar words
- changeable
- temperamental
Questions about moody
Is moody a negative word?
When it describes a person, moody is usually negative because it suggests they become angry or sad without warning. For music, films and photos, moody can be positive and means dark and full of atmosphere.
What is the comparative of moody?
The comparative is moodier and the superlative is moodiest: “She’s moodier than her sister.”
The word before
Do you still remember afford?
One question about the word from 18 October. Remembering a word a day later helps it stay.
One question
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What does afford mean?
If you can afford something, you have the money or the time you need for it, so paying for it or doing it is not a problem.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer.
More feelings words
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C1
empathy
The ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. -
B1
grateful
Feeling or showing thanks because someone has helped you or given you something. -
B2
outgoing
Friendly, open and enjoying meeting people. -
C1
tolerate
To accept something that you do not like without complaining or taking action. -
B2
guilty
Feeling bad because you think you have done something wrong. -
C1
sentimental
Connected with feelings of love or memories, often about the past.