moisten

American

[moi-suhn] / ˈmɔɪ sən /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become moist.

Synonyms:

spray, sponge, wet, dampen

moisten British

/ ˈmɔɪsən /

verb

to make or become moist

"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

Other Word Forms

moistener noun
overmoisten verb
premoistened adjective
remoisten verb
supermoisten verb (used with object)
unmoisten verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of moisten

First recorded in 1570–80; moist + -en ¹

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.

This and other recent rainfall have done much to moisten the landscape and make it harder for blazes to start.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2025

Just moisten the potting mix, preferably one with a high percentage of organic matter, to help the blocks hold their shape.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 24, 2024

They love hot, dry conditions, but they need the occasional downpour to moisten the soil in which they incubate their eggs.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2024

Then, they used energy dissipation models to compare the seals' ability to warm and moisten air during inhalation and to reduce heat and moisture loss during exhalation.

From Science Daily • Dec. 14, 2023

A wave of longing washed through her and a dryness caught in her throat that the tea could not moisten.

From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023