douse

1 of 7

verb (1)

ˈdau̇s 

also

ˈdau̇z 

variants or less commonly dowse

doused also dowsed; dousing also dowsing

transitive verb

1

: to plunge into water

Blanch the green beans then douse them in a bath of ice water.

2

a

: to throw a liquid on : drench

The books were doused in gasoline and set ablaze.

doused herself in perfume

b

: slosh

3

[originally in argot use (douse the glim meaning "extinguish the light") and perhaps of distinct origin] : extinguish

douse the lights

douse the blaze

intransitive verb

: to fall or become plunged into water

douser noun

or less commonly dowser

douse

2 of 7

noun (1)

ˈdau̇s 

also

ˈdau̇z 

: a heavy drenching

a douse of cold water

douse

3 of 7

noun (2)

ˈdüs  ˈdau̇s 

British

: blow, stroke

douse

4 of 7

verb (2)

ˈdau̇s 

doused; dousing

transitive verb

1

nautical

a

: to take in : lower, strike

douse a sail

b

: slacken

douse a rope

2

: take off, doff

doused his hat

dowser

5 of 7

noun (3)

dows·​er ˈdau̇-zər 

: divining rod

also : a person who uses it

dowser

6 of 7

noun (4)

dows·​er -sə(r) 

-zə-

less common spelling of douser

: one that douses

specifically : a fireproof shutter that controls or intercepts the light reaching the film aperture of a motion-picture mechanism (as a projector) or of a stereopticon

douser

7 of 7

noun (5)

dous·​er

variants or less commonly dowser

-sə(r) 

-zə-

plural -s

: one that douses

specifically : a fireproof shutter that controls or intercepts the light reaching the film aperture of a motion-picture mechanism (as a projector) or of a stereopticon

Synonyms of douse

Verb (1)

• remove

Noun (2)

• blow
• slap
• knock
• hit
• swipe
• thump
• lick
• whack
• poke
• punch
• smack
• spank
• pound
• thud
• stroke
• beat
• slam
• bang

Examples of douse in a Sentence

Verb (1)

in those days a gentleman would douse his hat when going indoors

Noun (2)

those soccer hooligans need a sound douse or two from a police officer's club

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The roof later became structurally unsafe so firefighters used helicopters and water cannons to douse the flames. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

While the fastest way to cool them is by dousing with water, this can make quite a mess on your patio. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026

Noun

In interiors, a pop of red adds energy, but a douse of it on the walls transforms the room entirely. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026

Sure enough, Perez came to douse Witt, who also was aware of the postgame tradition. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026

Noun

For Britton, the Hamilton dowser, the practice is all a bit of a mystery. — Dugan Arnett, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2022

For centuries, dowsers have claimed the ability to find groundwater, precious metals, and other quarry using divining rods and a seemingly mystical intuition. — Svati Kirsten Narula, Outside Online, 10 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

of obscure origin

Note: 16th-century douse "to strike, inflict a blow on" — see douse entry 3 may be related but is remote in sense

Noun (1)

noun derivative of douse entry 1

Noun (2)

noun derivative of earlier douse "to strike, inflict a blow on," akin by borrowing or descent to Middle Dutch dossen "to strike, shove," Early Modern Dutch doesen, German dialect dusen, tusen, tausen

Verb (2)

perhaps sense extensions of earlier douse "to strike, inflict a blow on" — more at douse entry 3

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1835, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (3)

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for douse

• blouse
• bouse
• dowse
• grouse
• haus
• louse
• mouse
• rouse
• spouse
• youse
• alehouse
• almshouse

Kids Definition

douse

verb

variants also dowse

ˈdau̇s

also ˈdau̇z

doused also dowsed; dousing also dowsing

1

a

: to stick into water

b

: to throw a liquid on

2

: to put out : extinguish

douse the lights