damp

noun

\ ˈdamp

Definition of damp

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a noxious gas — compare black damp, firedamp

2 : moisture:

a : humidity, dampness

b archaic : fog, mist

3a : discouragement, check

b archaic : depression, dejection

damp

verb

damped; damping; damps

Definition of damp (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to affect with or as if with a noxious gas : choke

b : to diminish the activity or intensity of damping down the causes of inflation liquid damps out compass oscillations

c : to check the vibration or oscillation of (something, such as a string or a voltage)

2 : dampen

intransitive verb

: to diminish progressively in vibration or oscillation

damp

adjective

Definition of damp (Entry 3 of 3)

1a archaic : being confused, bewildered, or shocked : stupefied

b : depressed, dull

2 : slightly or moderately wet : moist a damp towel also : humid damp weather

Other Words from damp Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about damp

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Choose the Right Synonym for damp

Adjective

wet, damp, dank, moist, humid mean covered or more or less soaked with liquid. wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (such as paint) not yet dry. slipped on the wet pavement damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture. clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness. a prisoner in a cold, dank cell moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry. treat the injury with moist heat humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air. a hot, humid climate

Examples of damp in a Sentence

Noun

The boxes were left outside in the damp. the damp of the night

Verb

His hands were damped with sweat. refused to let the setbacks damp his drive for success

Adjective

Wipe up the mess with a damp cloth. Her forehead was damp with perspiration. My hair's still damp from the rain.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Tomorrow (Friday): Morning is probably gray and a little damp, but the real rain doesn’t get going until later. — Ian Livingston, Washington Post, "PM Update: A few showers or a storm possible this evening; much more rain to come Friday," 27 July 2017 The internet is a virtual catacomb, where the skeletons of human decency line the damp, mildewed walls. — Christine Flowers, Philly.com, "Disgraced ex-TV worker didn't deserve humiliation," 15 June 2017 This damp—a byproduct of industrial smog mixing with moisture from the nearby ponds—is omnipresent, and repeated mentions more than illustrate Louis’s disgust. — Samuel Metz, New Republic, "Édouard Louis’s Novel of the French Working Class," 8 June 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Yellen’s speech, which lacked clear rate cues, did little to calm the price swings and damped expectations of a rate hike this year. — Fortune, "The Gold Market Just Got Rocked by a Mysterious and Massive Trade," 25 Aug. 2017 BROOKS RIVER — A brown bear sow emerged from the alder fringes of the Naknek Lake shoreline, ambled to the water's edge and dropped in a huge blond lump onto pumice pebbles and damp black volcanic sand. — Clark Fair, Alaska Dispatch News, "Beyond the bears: Here’s a rundown of other Brooks Camp attractions in Katmai," 29 July 2017 Apply the mixture to damp, clean hair and also massage it onto your scalp. — Lori Keong, Marie Claire, "4 Amazing Homemade Hair Masks for Healthier Looking Strands," 19 July 2017 Babies need to be constantly damp for some reason, like the whale at the end of Free Willy. — Frank Kobola, Redbook, "9 Thoughts All Dads-to-Be Have About Baby Shopping," 10 Mar. 2017 A Milan judge on Saturday ordered Silvio Berlusconi to be tried on corruption charges, damping the former Italian premier’s hopes of running soon for office again after being sidelined by a tax-fraud conviction. — Frances D&, Orange County Register, "New Italian trial set for Berlusconi in a corruption case," 29 Jan. 2017 These masterful shocks have somewhat redefined the state of the art in damping. — Jim Resnick, Ars Technica, "Camaro goes nuclear: Chevrolet escalates the muscle car war," 18 July 2017 But thoughts of the team’s imminent departure did not seem to be souring the sweetness of the celebration, nor damping the blaring of horns or thinning the throngs downtown and along the edges of Lake Merritt on Thursday. — Erin Baldassari, The Mercury News, "Warriors parade: Hundreds of thousands party in downtown Oakland," 15 June 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

When time's up, use a damp wash cloth to wipe away the mask and your leg hair with it, then rinse. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "I Tried Nair’s New Hair-Removal Masks — Here’s What Happened," 15 July 2019 Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. 3. — Daniel Neman, Twin Cities, "You can grill that? 6 new recipes to try this season," 4 July 2019 Hallman grabs a jar, places a damp paper towel in the bottom and puts in the leaf with the eggs on top. — Christen A. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "As raising monarch butterflies gains popularity, some worry about parasites, DNA changes," 3 July 2019 Pro tip: When storing mint in the fridge, roll into a damp paper towel. — Al Culliton, Bon Appétit, "A Pimm's Cup Recipe to Start Summer Off Right," 6 June 2019 Sprinkle on a little baking soda or a non-abrasive cleanser in a pinch and rub with a damp cloth to remove stuck-on stuff and wipe clean. — Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean A Glass Cooktop so it Looks Brand New Again," 30 Apr. 2019 His skin was damp with sweat in the uncomfortable heat of the July night. — Bree Burkitt, AZCentral.com, "A frantic call, a final standoff: 'Please don't hurt him. He just needs help'," 19 June 2019 At 6:45 am on a Thursday in late April, about two dozen women lined up yoga mats in several rows on the damp, chilly concrete of the Austin Marriott deck. — Hanna Kozlowska, Quartz, "Authenticity is the biggest challenge of the influencer world," 10 June 2019 When hair is damp post-shower, gently detangle strands from the bottom with a wide-tooth comb, working upwards toward the scalp to avoid breakage and damage. — Sam Escobar, Good Housekeeping, "9 Mistakes That Are Making Your Hair Look Greasy," 25 Mar. 2019

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