dampen

American

[dam-puhn] / ˈdæm pən /

verb (used with object)

to make damp; moisten.

to dampen a sponge.
to dull or deaden; depress.

to dampen one's spirits.
damp.

verb (used without object)

to become damp.

dampen British

/ ˈdæmpən /

verb

to make or become damp
(tr) to stifle; deaden

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

dampener noun
undampened adjective

Etymology

Origin of dampen

First recorded in 1620–30; damp + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Economists widely expect that the spike in gasoline prices—hovering above an average of $4 per gallon nationwide on Friday—will dampen consumer spending and likely weigh on economic growth in the second quarter.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Xiaomeng Lu, a director at political consultancy Eurasia Group, says mainland Chinese tech firms are "shifting to Hong Kong" for their primary share listing as "geopolitical headwinds dampen their dreams" to float in New York.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

“Geopolitical uncertainty could weigh on confidence, influence risk perceptions and dampen discretionary travel demand,” the WTO said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The increased cash flow is likely to bolster consumer spending in the year’s first half, although higher oil prices and sluggish tax processing could dampen some of the gains.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

Not much was said after that but it had been enough to dampen the thin sound of the portable radio they had been playing.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023