dampen

play

verb damp·en \ ˈdam-pən \

Definition of dampen

dampened; dampening play \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 1c

intransitive verb

1 :to become damp

2 :to become deadened or depressed

—

dampener

play \-nər\ noun

See dampen defined for English-language learners

See dampen defined for kids

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 of dampen from the Web

A string of defaults and restructurings has dampened investor appetite for the 18 billion lira ($5.2 billion) market in corporate debt, issuance has slowed, and a borrowing binge by the Treasury has increased competition for a limited savings pool.

— asli kandemir, Bloomberg.com, "Turkey Corporate Bonds Need a Rescue Plan, Fund Manager Says," 24 Aug. 2017
The forecast dampened hopes not only for local residents but many who converged this weekend on St. Joseph, which has been billed as a prime eclipse-watching location.

— scott canon and robert a. cronkleton, kansascity, "Cloudy weather forecast worries eclipse watchers in St. Joseph, and across Missouri," 20 Aug. 2017
Nothing beats exhaustion for its ability to curb unwanted behaviors and dampen anxieties.

— patty khuly, miamiherald, "Dog digging up the yard? Here’s what vet says to try," 17 Aug. 2017
Despite losing in its most recent outing against the Rochester Rhinos in United Soccer League play, the choppiness of the play and several questionable refereeing decisions doesn't appear to have dampened the mood in the FCC camp.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "U.S. Open Cup play resumes for FC Cincinnati: What to watch for," 31 July 2017
Her feet on the pedals dampened or sustained, shaping longevity.

— Longreads, "I’ve Found Her," 27 July 2017
If mixture is super sticky and coats your hands, dampen your hands with a bit of cold water and try again.

— claire saffitz, Bon Appetit, "Falafel Fritters Bowl with Cucumbers and Yogurt Sauce," 24 July 2017
Could rain dampen July 4 fireworks in the Charlotte region on Tuesday night?

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "Will rain dampen Independence Day fireworks? Here’s the latest forecast.," 3 July 2017
Use a spray bottle or a wet sponge to dampen the skin along your temples.

— brooke shunatona, Cosmopolitan, "11 Halloween Looks You Can Create With Makeup You Already Have," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dampen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dampen

1547

dampen Synonyms

Synonyms

bedew, damp, moisten

Antonyms

dry

Related Words

bathe, lave; douse (also dowse), drench, impregnate, saturate, soak, souse, steep, wash, water, wet; humidify; dip, dunk, immerge, immerse; flush, irrigate, rinse, sluice; refresh, rehydrate, remoisten

Near Antonyms

dehumidify, dehydrate, desiccate, parch, scorch, sear

DAMPEN Defined for English Language Learners

dampen

play

verb

Definition of dampen for English Language Learners

: to make (something) somewhat or slightly wet : to make (something) damp
: to make (something) less strong or active

DAMPEN Defined for Kids

dampen

play

verb damp·en \ ˈdam-pən \

Definition of dampen for Students

dampened; dampening

1 :to make or become slighty wet

Please dampen this washcloth.

2 :to make dull or less active

A bad start didn't dampen our confidence.

Learn More about dampen

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dampen Spanish Central: Translation of dampen Nglish: Translation of dampen for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dampen for Arabic speakers

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dampen

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dampener

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Examples of dampen in a Sentence

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dampen Synonyms

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DAMPEN Defined for English Language Learners

dampen

Definition of dampen for English Language Learners

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