dampen

1 of 2

verb

damp·​en ˈdam-pən 

dampened; dampening ˈdamp-niŋ 

ˈdam-pə-

transitive verb

1

: to check or diminish the activity or vigor of : deaden

the heat dampened our spirits

2

: to make damp

the shower barely dampened the ground

3

: damp sense 2b

intransitive verb

1

: to become damp

2

: to become deadened or depressed

dampener

ˈdamp-nər 

ˈdam-pə-

noun

dampener

2 of 2

noun

damp·​en·​er ˈdam-pə-nər 

plural -s

: one that dampens: such as

a

: a device for dampening cloth (as in a laundry)

b

: a worker that dampens articles in preparation for further processing:

(1)

: one that tempers shoe outsoles to facilitate cutting, shaping, and stitching

called also muller

(2)

: one that dampens textiles (as hosiery or cloth) for boarding or ironing

(3)

: one that softens hides in warm water

c

: a device for retarding the oscillations of a spring when a load is suddenly applied or removed

d

: any of the rollers on an offset printing press that convey water to nonprinting areas of the printing surface

Synonyms of dampen

Verb

• moisten
• damp
• wet
• rinse
• wash
• flush

Examples of dampen in a Sentence

Verb

Dampen the spot with a wet cloth.

The shower barely dampened the ground.

We wouldn't let the bad weather dampen our excitement.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The results could also bolster or dampen the biotech’s aspirations to treat a broader class of immunological diseases with its drug, including chronic spontaneous urticaria and asthma. — Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 2 Nov. 2026

How To Spot-Clean A Weighted Blanket Use a clean microfiber cloth dampened in a solution of water and gentle detergent to wipe the surface of the blanket. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2026

The early tip didn’t dampen the typical home-crowd energy level these teams play in front of. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

Rain chances rise late this week and could dampen Halloween plans, the National Weather Service said. — Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for dampen

• rifampin

Kids Definition

dampen

verb

damp·​en ˈdam-pən 

dampened; dampening ˈdamp-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: to check or lessen in activity or vigor : deaden

2

: to make or become damp

dampener

ˈdamp-(ə-)nər 

noun