dew

1 of 2

noun

ˈdü 

also ˈdyü

1

meteorology : moisture condensed upon the surfaces of cool bodies especially at night

wet with morning dew

2

: something resembling dew in purity, freshness, or power to refresh

… the golden dew of sleep …

—William Shakespeare

3

: moisture especially when appearing in minute droplets: such as

a

: tears

b

: sweat

c

botany : droplets of water produced by a plant in transpiration

dew transitive verb

dewless

ˈdü-ləs 

also ˈdyü-

adjective

DEW

2 of 2

abbreviation

distant early warning

Did you know?

This is a deposit of water droplets formed at night by the condensation of water vapor from the air onto the surfaces of exposed objects. Dew forms on clear nights, when exposed surfaces lose heat by radiation and are thus usually colder than the air. The cold surface cools the air in its vicinity, and, if the air is humid enough, it may cool below its dew point, the temperature at which water vapor condenses out of the air onto the surface.

Examples of dew in a Sentence

Noun

The grass was wet with the morning dew.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Our park will be in the shadow of 12-story buildings and won’t get enough sun to evaporate the dew until early afternoon. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026

The candle is specially formulated to melt into a massage oil and features notes of bergamot, fresh dew, floral, cassis, vanilla, and amber. —Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 13 Feb. 2026

Cartels Infiltrate the Suburban Hockey Community On a late-June morning in 2022, the dew lay thick on the neat lawns of a wealthy neighborhood in northwest Austin, amid sprawling million-dollar mansions, azure pools, and shimmering pickups and sleek sports cars. —Matthew Bremner, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026

The falling dews seemed to strain and purify the air, and I was soothed with an infinite stillness. —Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English dēaw; akin to Old High German tou dew, Greek thein to run

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dew

• dew point
• dew worm
• mountain dew

Rhymes for dew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• do

Kids Definition

dew

noun

ˈd(y)ü 

1

: moisture that collects on the surfaces of cool bodies at night

2

: something resembling dew in purity, freshness, or power to refresh

dewy

ˈd(y)ü-ē

adjective