damp
DAMP
Damp (adj) means Slightly wet; not dry but not soaking either. Example: “Wipe the counter with a damp cloth.”
adj
1
Slightly wet; not dry but not soaking either.
"Wipe the counter with a damp cloth."
"The basement walls always feel damp in winter."
"Hang the towels outside, because they are still damp from the shower."
noun
1
Moisture in the air or on a surface; humidity.
"You could smell the damp as soon as you opened the cellar door."
"Black mould on the bedroom wall is a sure sign of damp."
"The damp in the old cottage made the wallpaper peel."
verb
1
To make something slightly wet, or to weaken and reduce something such as a fire, sound, or feeling.
"They damped down the campfire before going to sleep."
"His sarcastic remark damped the mood in the room."
"Heavy rain damped our plans for a picnic in the park."
How to use damp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomewhere between wet and dry, or (as a verb) to make something wetter or to muffle/reduce it.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the verb "damp" with "dampen" — both exist, but "dampen" is far more common in everyday speech for lessening a feeling ("dampen my spirits"), while "damp" as a verb is more technical (damping vibrations, damping a fire).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
damp cloth
damp weather
damp basement
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Word forms
- Plural
- damps
- Third person singular
- damps
- Past tense
- damped
- Comparative
- damper
- Superlative
- dampest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Wipe the counter with a _____ cloth.
Etymology
From Middle English dampen ("to suffocate, stifle"), related to German Dampf ("steam, vapor") — the sense of moisture came later.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for damp
See all rhymes for damp →Frequently asked questions
What does “damp” mean?
The word “damp” means slightly wet; not dry but not soaking either. In plain terms, somewhere between wet and dry, or (as a verb) to make something wetter or to muffle/reduce it.
How do you pronounce “damp”?
“Damp” is pronounced DAMP (/ˈdeə̯mp/ in IPA).
How do you use “damp” in a sentence?
Here is “damp” used in a sentence: “Wipe the counter with a damp cloth.”
What is another word for “damp”?
Words with a similar meaning to “damp” include thoan, thone, melancholy and sorrowful.
What part of speech is “damp”?
Depending on how it is used, “damp” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “damp” come from?
The word “damp” comes from Middle English. From Middle English dampen ("to suffocate, stifle"), related to German Dampf ("steam, vapor") — the sense of moisture came later.
Is “damp” a common word?
“Damp” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “damp” have?
“Damp” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: slightly wet; not dry but not soaking either.
What is the difference between "damp" and "wet"?
"Damp" describes something slightly wet but not soaking, such as a towel that has dried most of the way. "Wet" is the broader, stronger term that covers anything soaked with liquid, so all damp things are wet in a mild sense, but not all wet things are merely damp.
What is the difference between "damp" and "humid"?
"Damp" can describe a surface, object, or the air itself as slightly wet, while "humid" specifically describes air with a high moisture content. In practice, a humid climate often leaves surfaces feeling damp, but the two words emphasize different things: humid is about air, damp is about the resulting moist feel.
How is "damp" used as a verb, as in "damp a sound"?
As a verb, "to damp" means to weaken or reduce something, such as a fire, a sound, or a feeling, in addition to its literal sense of making something slightly wet. This verb usage appears in phrases like "damp down a fire" or "damp the vibrations" in engineering and music contexts.
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