MEANING
1. To make something slightly wet, or to lessen its force, excitement, or effect.
2. To reduce the strength, liveliness, or effect of a sound, feeling, or response.
Use it for
Describe something becoming slightly wet.Describe a surface taking on moisture or a reaction, sound, or atmosphere losing some force.
Words that belong together
- dampen cloth
- dampen soil
- dampen a surface
- dampen enthusiasm
- dampen a sound
- dampen someone’s spirits
On the page
Rain dampened the cuff of his coat as he waited outside.
Her apology dampened his anger but did not erase it.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- dampen
- Past tense
- dampened
- Past participle
- dampened
- Present participle
- dampening
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- dampen
- Present continuous
- am/is/are dampening
- Present perfect
- have/has dampened
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been dampening
- Past
- dampened
- Past continuous
- was/were dampening
- Past perfect
- had dampened
- Past perfect continuous
- had been dampening
- Future
- will dampen
- Future continuous
- will be dampening
- Future perfect
- will have dampened
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been dampening
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
In the physical sense, dampen means make somewhat wet, not soak through. Sense 2: The figurative sense means reduce, not extinguish; it commonly takes enthusiasm, sound, spirits, or impact as its object.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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