dampened; dampening
ˈdamp-niŋ 
ˈdam-pə-
1
: to check or diminish the activity or vigor of : deaden
the heat dampened our spirits
2
: to make damp
the shower barely dampened the ground
3
Examples of dampen in a Sentence
Dampen the spot with a wet cloth.
The shower barely dampened the ground.
We wouldn't let the bad weather dampen our excitement.
Recent Examples on the Web
The stands are a hybrid of CLT and concrete to dampen the tremors from tens of thousands of fans stomping in sync.
—
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 Jan. 2025
Looking back on it now, Gervais’s attempt to dampen awards-show speechifying also served as an early indication of how Hollywood might respond to another Trump term—something that was reaffirmed by last night’s Golden Globes.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025
While AccuWeather meteorologists have predicted a rainy New Year's Eve in New York, it's not expected not to dampen any of the celebrations too much.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
Studies have shown that low doses of THC can dampen negative emotional responses without significantly impacting performance.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dampen 
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Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 Jan. 2025
Looking back on it now, Gervais’s attempt to dampen awards-show speechifying also served as an early indication of how Hollywood might respond to another Trump term—something that was reaffirmed by last night’s Golden Globes.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025
While AccuWeather meteorologists have predicted a rainy New Year's Eve in New York, it's not expected not to dampen any of the celebrations too much.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
Studies have shown that low doses of THC can dampen negative emotional responses without significantly impacting performance.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dampen
Dictionary Entries Near dampen
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dampen. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dampen
verb
damp·en
ˈdam-pən
dampened; dampening
ˈdamp-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to check or lessen in activity or vigor : deaden
2
: to make or become damp
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