Synonyms

moisten

American

[moi-suhn] / ˈmɔɪ sən /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become moist.

Synonyms:

spray, sponge, wet, dampen

moisten British

/ ˈmɔɪsən /

verb

to make or become moist

"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

moistener noun
overmoisten verb
premoistened adjective
remoisten verb
supermoisten verb (used with object)
unmoisten verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of moisten

First recorded in 1570–80; moist + -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.

There’s nothing like a life-and-death situation turning out “life” to moisten one’s eyes, especially if you or a loved one has spent any time in the medical system, or feared the possibility.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2025

They had some Palestinian thyme and foraged wild greens to eat, but only that, and just enough water to moisten their mouths once in a while, Mr. Barda told a Times reporter.

From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2024

Then, they used energy dissipation models to compare the seals' ability to warm and moisten air during inhalation and to reduce heat and moisture loss during exhalation.

From Science Daily • Dec. 14, 2023

Rub a cut lemon around the rim of your serving dish to moisten.

From Washington Times • May 28, 2023

These I moisten in dew and dip in hazelnuts I pounded to a powder with a stone.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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