dampen

[ dam-puhn ]
See synonyms for: dampendampeneddampeningdampener on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to make damp; moisten: to dampen a sponge.

  2. to dull or deaden; depress: to dampen one's spirits.

verb (used without object)
  1. to become damp.

Origin of dampen

1
First recorded in 1620–30; damp + -en1

Other words from dampen

  • damp·en·er, noun
  • un·damp·ened, adjective

Words that may be confused with dampen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dampen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dampen

dampen

/ (ˈdæmpən) /


verb
  1. to make or become damp

  2. (tr) to stifle; deaden

Derived forms of dampen

  • dampener, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012