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

Whether Trump’s raft of tariffs—delayed until Aug. 1—will dampen consumer confidence later this year. —Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Rain came through just before the race began, dampening the track during the pre-race ceremonies. —Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 July 2025

Despite industry-leading performance, TMUS is experiencing slowing subscriber growth, which could dampen revenue growth. —Tony Zhang, CNBC, 9 July 2025

Only the complete lack of steering feedback dampened the fun, but even so, the R1T Quad-Motor is far more engaging on the road than a truck this size has any right to be. —Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 8 July 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