wistful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The first single, Days We Left Behind, premiered on BBC Radio Merseyside, and finds the singer in a wistful, nostalgic mood.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Some people who don’t expect an inheritance might feel wistful or even sad about their financial prospects, especially when relatives and friends are on the receiving end.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

They were signs of a nation’s respect, or at least wistful nostalgia.

From Slate • Feb. 6, 2026

This wistful chapter evokes classics like “Paper Moon,” but Bi lands on a resolution that’s uniquely heartbreaking, connecting the illusion of movies with the delusions we cling to in the real world.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025

She sighed, wistful, and rested her chin in her hand, gazing down to where people lived and danced and loved and gossiped and didn’t ever eat kimril if they didn’t want to.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor