English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

adj Uncommon

dank

DANGK

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Dank (adj) means Unpleasantly damp, cold, and musty, especially of an enclosed space. Example: “The cellar was dank and smelled of mildew.”

adj

1

Unpleasantly damp, cold, and musty, especially of an enclosed space.

"The cellar was dank and smelled of mildew."

"A dank fog hung over the old churchyard."

2

Slang: excellent or impressive (often used of memes or, historically, strong cannabis).

"That meme is so dank it broke the group chat."

How to use dank

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes a cold, damp, unpleasant place — or, in internet slang, something so good or absurd it's impressive.

Common mistake

The slang sense ("dank meme") is casual internet usage and doesn't belong in formal writing.

Common pairings

dank basement dank cellar dank meme

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: danks
Third person singular: danks
Past tense: danked
Comparative: danker
Superlative: dankest

Test yourself on “dank” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

clammy

Antonyms

mediocre uncool

Related words

great beautiful average choice super amazing sweet sick

Rhymes for dank

bank tank wank rank Hank drank stank plank thank frank prank swank

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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