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 Miami fans’ mood dampened in the ninth minute, when Sam Surridge converted a penalty kick to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
—
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
Nothing will dampen your bonding time like being glued to a device.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025
Just as momentum has propelled them to fourth, so a shift could dampen spirits and rein in any talk of a comfortable season.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Someone else knew buyers who were optimistic that a Mamdani win might finally be the thing to dampen the Brooklyn townhouse market.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dampen
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Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
Nothing will dampen your bonding time like being glued to a device.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025
Just as momentum has propelled them to fourth, so a shift could dampen spirits and rein in any talk of a comfortable season.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Someone else knew buyers who were optimistic that a Mamdani win might finally be the thing to dampen the Brooklyn townhouse market.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dampen. Accessed 4 Nov. 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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