Standard Lemma guide

dampen

verb · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈdæmpən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æmpən
  • CMU ARPABET: D AE1 M P AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make damp or moist; to make moderately wet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To become damp or moist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To lessen; to dull; to make less intense (said of emotions and non-physical things).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • We won't let the bad news dampen our spirits.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To suppress vibrations (mechanical) or oscillations (electrical) by converting energy to heat (or some other form of energy).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: proscribed, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To become damped or deadened.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

make moist

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The dew moistened the meadows

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: moisten, wash

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wet

Narrower terms: humidify, moisturize, moisturise, baste

7

verb

Meaning 7

lessen in force or effect

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • soften a shock
  • break a fall

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: damp, soften, weaken, break

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deaden, blunt

Narrower terms: deafen, dampen, deaden, damp

8

verb

Meaning 8

check; keep in check (a fire)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: check, retard, delay

9

verb

Meaning 9

make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • muffle the message

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: deaden, damp

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: dampen, damp, soften, weaken, break

10

verb

Meaning 10

smother or suppress

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Stifle your curiosity

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stifle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: suppress, stamp down, inhibit, subdue, conquer, curb

Narrower terms: suffocate, choke

11

verb

Meaning 11

reduce the amplitude (of oscillations or waves)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: weaken

12

verb

Meaning 12

deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: muffle, mute, dull, damp, tone down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: soften

History

Etymology

From damp + -en.

Across languages

Translations

42 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: навлажнявам (navlažnjavam) — make damp — see also moisten
  • Bulgarian: овлажнявам (ovlažnjavam) — make damp — see also moisten
  • Finnish: kostuttaa — make damp — see also moisten
  • French: humecter — make damp — see also moisten
  • French: humidifier — make damp — see also moisten
  • French: mouiller — make damp — see also moisten
  • German: befeuchten — make damp — see also moisten
  • German: anfeuchten — make damp — see also moisten
  • Hungarian: nedvesít — make damp — see also moisten
  • Hungarian: megnedvesít — make damp — see also moisten
  • Ido: arozetar — make damp — see also moisten
  • Italian: inumidire — make damp — see also moisten
  • Māori: whakamākūkū — make damp — see also moisten
  • Middle English: moisten — make damp — see also moisten
  • Russian: увлажня́ть (uvlažnjátʹ) — make damp — see also moisten
  • Russian: увлажни́ть (uvlažnítʹ) — make damp — see also moisten
  • Slovak: navlhčiť — make damp — see also moisten
  • Spanish: humedecer — make damp — see also moisten
  • Spanish: humectar — make damp — see also moisten
  • Spanish: mojar — make damp — see also moisten
  • Swedish: fukta — make damp — see also moisten
  • Swedish: väta — make damp — see also moisten
  • Ukrainian: зволо́жувати (zvolóžuvaty) — make damp — see also moisten
  • Ukrainian: зволо́жити (zvolóžyty) — make damp — see also moisten
  • Bulgarian: обезсърчавам (obezsǎrčavam) — depress, lessen
  • Bulgarian: угнетявам (ugnetjavam) — depress, lessen
  • Dutch: bedrukken — depress, lessen
  • Dutch: dempen — depress, lessen
  • French: déprécier — depress, lessen
  • French: rabaisser — depress, lessen
  • German: dämpfen — depress, lessen
  • Māori: whakanoti — depress, lessen
  • Māori: kōmau — depress, lessen
  • Spanish: deprimir — depress, lessen
  • Spanish: reducir — depress, lessen
  • Swedish: dämpa — depress, lessen
  • Bulgarian: навлажнявам се (navlažnjavam se) — become damp, to deaden
  • Catalan: esmorteir — become damp, to deaden
  • French: s'humidifier — become damp, to deaden
  • French: s'humecter — become damp, to deaden
  • Ido: humideskar — become damp, to deaden
  • Spanish: amortiguarse — become damp, to deaden