[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/dampen/)

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# dampen

verb (dampen, dampens, dampened, dampening)

«dampen» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To dampen something is to make it a little wet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#m1)
2. To dampen a feeling is to make it weaker or less happy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#m2)
3. To dampen a sound or a movement is to make it quieter or smaller. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#m3)

### In the lessons

In cooking and art, you dampen a cloth or paper. In stories, «the rain dampened our spirits» means people felt less cheerful. In science and music, materials dampen sound or vibration. Phrases: «dampen someone's spirits», «dampen enthusiasm», «put a damper on» (spoil the mood).

### Examples

- Dampen the cloth before you wipe the table. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#x1)
- The rain did not dampen our spirits at sports day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#x2)
- The bad news dampened everyone's excitement. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#x3)
- Thick curtains dampen the noise from the street. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#x4)
- Dampen the soil before you plant the seeds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#x5)
- Nothing could dampen her joy on her birthday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb. Adjective: damp (slightly wet). Similar: moisten (wet), weaken, deaden (sound). A «damper» is a thing that dampens: a part of a piano or chimney, or something that spoils fun («put a damper on it»).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «dampen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dampen/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«dampen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dampen.html) on Mova free.