Standard Lemma guide

humidify

verb · 2 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

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  • /hjuːˈmɪdɪfaɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To increase the humidity in the air.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

make (more) humid

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We have a machine that humidifies the air in the house

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: moisturize, moisturise

Antonyms: dehumidify

Broader terms: moisten, wash, dampen

Narrower terms: hydrate

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin ūmeō Proto-Indo-European *dheh1-der. Proto-Italic *-iðos Latin -idus Latin ūmidus Latin hūmidusder. Old French humideder. English humid Latin -i- Proto-Indo-European *dheh1-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -ficus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -ficō Latin -ificāreder. Old French -ifierbor. Middle English -ifien English -ify English humidify From humid + -ify.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: խոնավացնել (xonavacʻnel) — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • Bulgarian: овлажнявам (ovlažnjavam) — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • Catalan: humidificar — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • French: humidifier — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • Galician: humidificar — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • German: befeuchten — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • Italian: umidificare — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • Portuguese: humidificar — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • Portuguese: umidificar — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • Spanish: humidificar — To increase the humidity in the air.
  • Tagalog: ipahalumigmig — To increase the humidity in the air.