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

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

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

But her athletic triumph was tragically dampened by years of abuse at the hands of her husband and coach Jim Martin, who in 2010 attempted to murder her, stabbing her many times, slicing the flesh off the bone from her leg, and shooting her. —Esther Zuckerman, Time, 6 Sep. 2025

Growing up during the Lebanese Civil War, famed architect and designer Aline Asmar d’Amman was often cozied in her room, her nose buried in a book to dampen the noise from the bombs outside. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025

These comments come as factions of the GOP have fought to dampen the heat from this issue since July. —Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2025

Inputs that arrive in sync with the rhythm are amplified, while those that come at the wrong moment are dampened or ignored. —New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025

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