dank
Dank (adj) means Unpleasantly damp, cold, and musty, especially of an enclosed space. Example: “The cellar was dank and smelled of mildew.”
How to use dank
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a cold, damp, unpleasant place — or, in internet slang, something so good or absurd it's impressive.
The slang sense ("dank meme") is casual internet usage and doesn't belong in formal writing.
Word forms
danker comparative, danked past tense, danks plural, danks singular, dankest superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cellar was _____ and smelled of mildew.
Etymology
From Middle English danke ("wet, damp"), likely from a North Germanic source related to Swedish dank ("marshy spot"). The internet slang sense grew out of an older drug-culture use meaning "strong, high-quality," which later broadened into general praise.
Rhymes for dank
See all rhymes for dank →Frequently asked questions
What does “dank” mean?
The word “dank” means unpleasantly damp, cold, and musty, especially of an enclosed space. In plain terms, describes a cold, damp, unpleasant place — or, in internet slang, something so good or absurd it's impressive.
How do you pronounce “dank”?
“Dank” is pronounced DANGK (/ˈdeɪ̯ŋk/ in IPA).
How do you use “dank” in a sentence?
Here is “dank” used in a sentence: “The cellar was dank and smelled of mildew.”
What part of speech is “dank”?
“Dank” is an adjective.
Where does the word “dank” come from?
The word “dank” comes from Middle English.
Is “dank” a common word?
“Dank” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dank” have?
“Dank” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unpleasantly damp, cold, and musty, especially of an enclosed space.
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