Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense dampens, present participle dampening, past tense, past participle dampened
1. verb
To dampen something such as someone's enthusiasm or excitement means to make it less lively or intense.
Nothing seems to dampen his perpetual enthusiasm. [VERB noun]
I hate to dampen your spirits but aren't you overlooking a couple of minor points. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: reduce, check, moderate, dash More Synonyms of dampen
To dampen something down means the same as to dampen it.
Although unemployment rose last month, this is unlikely to dampen down wage demands. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
The economy overheated and the government used to interest rates to dampen it down. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. verb
If you dampen something, you make it slightly wet.
She took the time to dampen a washcloth and do her face. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: moisten, wet, spray, make damp More Synonyms of dampen
dampen in British English
(ˈdæmpən)
verb
1.
to make or become damp
2. (transitive)
to stifle; deaden
Derived forms
dampener (ˈdampener)
noun
dampen in American English
(ˈdæmpən)
verb transitive
1.
to make damp; moisten
2.
to deaden, depress, reduce, or lessen
verb intransitive
3.
to become damp
Derived forms
dampener (ˈdampener)
noun
Examples of 'dampen' in a sentence
dampen
He said price growth in excess of earnings rises had dampened demand.
The Sun (2016)
The aim was to dampen demand from the buy-to-let sector and free more stock for those struggling to get on to the property ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But that does not seem likely to dampen the excitement.
The Sun (2011)
Yet this has done little to dampen demand.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Not that this seems to have dampened his enthusiasm.
Alexander Masters STUART: A Life Backwards (2005)
Record high house prices are also dampening demand.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It may take more than a slump in the housing sector to dampen that enthusiasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But that failed to dampen his enthusiasm.
The Sun (2012)
Increase the intensity of the colour by dampening your brush slightly before applying to give an opaque finish.
The Sun (2014)
It would take more than that to dampen her enthusiasm about the prospect of a week in the sunshine.
The Sun (2008)
It has not dampened my enthusiasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Over the years, the quintet have regularly dampened speculation about any reunion.
The Sun (2013)
Such self-indulgent interludes succeeded only in dampening crowd excitement.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We get in the car, the frisson slightly dampened.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But that hasn't dampened the excitement of the rival fans.
The Sun (2011)
Two factors have dampened demand in Turkey.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
For best results, slightly dampen the surface first.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
More courses are closing than opening, dampening demand for carts.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Dad took that quite well and it didn't dampen his enthusiasm.
The Sun (2015)
The felt absorbed the dye when dipped into it; pressure on the wooden block forced it into the slightly dampened fabric.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
Punters expected earnings to have been pressured by unseasonably warm weather in Europe and production to have been hit by dampened demand and disposals.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A weaker economy will reduce business activity and dampen demand for office, retail and commercial space.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One of the City's most influential regulators has dampened speculation that there will be a resurgence in merger and takeover activity next year.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I would serve it with a slight chill, not least to dampen the excitement, which might get too much.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
dampen
British English: dampen VERB
To dampen something such as someone's enthusiasm or excitement means to make it less lively or intense.
Nothing seems to dampen his perpetual enthusiasm.
American English: dampen
Brazilian Portuguese: diminuir
Chinese: 抑制
European Spanish: empañar
French: refroidir
German: dämpfen
Italian: smorzare
Japanese: >そぐ熱意や興奮を
Korean: 한풀 꺾이게 하다
European Portuguese: diminuir
Latin American Spanish: empañar
Chinese translation of 'dampen'
dampen
(ˈdæmpən)
vt
[enthusiasm, spirits]使减(減)弱 (shǐ jiǎnruò)
(= make wet) 弄湿(濕) (nòngshī)
damp
(dæmp)
adj
[building, air, cloth]潮湿(濕)的 (cháoshī de)
n(u)
(in air, in walls) 湿(濕)气(氣) (shīqì)
vt
[cloth] (also dampen) 使潮湿(濕) (shǐ cháoshī)
[enthusiasm, spirits etc]打击(擊) (dǎjī)
1 (verb)
Definition
to reduce the intensity of
Nothing seemed to dampen his enthusiasm.
Synonyms
reduce
Consumption is being reduced by 25 per cent.
check
moderate
They are hoping that she will be persuaded to moderate her views.
dash
They had their hopes raised and then dashed.
dull
Her illness failed to dull her optimism.
restrain
deter
Expensive tuition fees deter students from going to university.
stifle
Critics have accused them of trying to stifle debate.
lessen
Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness.
smother
trying to smother our giggles
muffle
I held a handkerchief over my mouth to muffle my voice.
deaden
They managed to deaden the sound.
2 (verb)
Definition
to make damp
She took the time to dampen a cloth and wash her face.
Synonyms
moisten
She took a sip of water to moisten her dry throat.