dampen

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 1c

intransitive verb

1

: to become damp

2

: to become deadened or depressed

dampener

ˈdamp-nər 

ˈdam-pə-

noun

Synonyms of dampen

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

Examples of dampen in a Sentence

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

Varnished or very well-sealed surfaces can be wiped with a soft cloth lightly dampened with dish soap and water. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 May 2026

The gnarly midday traffic heading north to Broward and pouring rain did nothing to dampen his mood. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026

Kyle Grillot | Bloomberg | Getty Images Mortgage rates continued to climb higher last week, dampening demand for loans from both current homeowners and potential homebuyers. —Diana Olick, CNBC, 20 May 2026

None of these challenges have dampened the enthusiasm of those building world models. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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