dowse
1 Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dowse
First recorded in 1685–95; originally dialect (SW England); origin obscure
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Separate forest fires have been raging farther north, Anucha noted, including in Chiang Mai province, where water was dumped from the air Wednesday in an effort the dowse the flames.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2023
“Lyra, run forrard and dowse that glim,” said Brabandt, easing the throttle back and reaching out with his other hand for the stern light.
From Slate ● Jun. 10, 2019
Spieth elected to answer, as if to dowse any sparks, and U.S. captain Jim Furyk highjacked the query before it could get back across to Reed before the media session ended.
From Golf Digest ● Dec. 12, 2018
When done, she wud dowse the lite, causing dark.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 21, 2017
I smiled at the thought of anyone trying to dowse for me now, trying to make sense of the dozens of contradictory signals as the leaves swirled and spun in a dozen different directions.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
But McEwen has now dowsed some of the excitement ignited by his initial finding.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 22, 2017
Kerr dowsed the ley lines to determine where the first Pyramid Stage should go.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2015
Against the impatient expostulations of the Serjeant, we brought the man down from the attic and dowsed him with water, that he might not suffer so greatly from the heat.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
The chocolate-chip pancakes dowsed in syrup have clearly only enhanced his hyper excitement.
From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman
Every light was dowsed on board, and the bells were even not allowed to be struck.
From Tales of the Sea And of our Jack Tars by Robertson, T.
Under its new management, Guinness World Records began dowsing new revenue streams to supplement its book sales.
From New York Times ● Nov. 23, 2022
I’m somewhat less skeptical about water dowsing, despite my coat hanger failure, but two underground water experts I spoke to added to my doubts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2022
Much of his personal wealth comes from dowsing for oil and mineral companies, as well as entertainment, but he does not think of retirement.
From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2021
Unlike Ouija Boards, dowsing rods and Ghost Boxes, these are actual scientific instruments that can be used for valid research.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2021
If I’d kept my wits about me, I could have taken their dowsing compass away, ensuring my safety.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
