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

• bedew
• damp
• moisten

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

Even as rain poured down on Manhattan last night, the festive atmosphere at the Metropolitan Museum of Art could not be dampened. —Ian Malone, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024

Yet that hasn’t dampened the confidence in the China entertainment market of IMAX China CEO Daniel Manwaring. —Russell Flannery, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

The storm's affect threatened to dampen midweek plans for skiers and snowboarders alike. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Its shuffling around the release schedule didn’t give me much hope, and word spread from someone at a rival studio that the exhibitor screening didn’t go well, also dampening my hopes. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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