What does sky mean?
Sky is the open expanse of the atmosphere seen above the Earth. In its most ordinary sense, it describes the blue or clouded area overhead, as in “the night sky,” and can refer broadly to the atmosphere above a particular place. The word also has older and more poetic associations with height, freedom, and the heavens. When used in the plural, “the skies” can mean the atmosphere as a whole or, figuratively, a person’s future prospects: promising developments may be described as brightening the outlook “in the skies.” Its imagery has made it especially common in literature, song, and ordinary description of weather and landscape. The plural form “skies” is standard and distinct in sound from the singular, reflecting the historical development of the word from Old Norse.
nounThe region of the atmosphere seen from the Earth, especially the expanse above the horizon. In figurative use, “the skies” can refer to heaven, destiny, or a hoped-for future.
- The region of the atmosphere seen from the Earth, especially the expanse above the horizon.
- The upper atmosphere considered as a place or condition, often with poetic or figurative implications.
- In the plural “skies,” the heavens or a person’s fate, destiny, or hoped-for future.
"Clouds moved slowly across the evening sky."
"The first light appeared in the eastern sky."
"The company is expanding into the skies of international business."
"They are watching the skies for signs of a storm."
The plural is standard and commonly used for the atmosphere or heavens generally, as well as in figurative expressions about the future or destiny.
"The skies darkened before the storm arrived."
The word sky comes from Old Norse, where it referred to a cloud before English adopted it for the whole expanse overhead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sky come from?
English sky comes from Old Norse skýr, meaning “cloud.” The word developed in Middle English from a reference to clouds into a broader term for the heavens or the visible expanse above the Earth. The plural skies reflects the regular Middle English formation with the -s ending, although the form was also influenced by Old English skyene, which similarly referred to the heavens.
Related word forms
How sky is actually used
“Sky” is common in both formal and informal contexts. The plural “the skies” has poetic and figurative uses, especially in expressions referring to the future, destiny, or the weather.
Easily confused with sky
Sky usually refers to the physical expanse above the Earth, while heaven often has religious or spiritual associations.
Sky is the visible atmosphere above the Earth, whereas space is the vast physical region beyond the atmosphere.