dampened; dampening ˈdamp-niŋ 
ˈdam-pə-
1
: to check or diminish the activity or vigor of : deaden
the heat dampened our spirits
2
: to make damp
the shower barely dampened the ground
3
Examples of dampen in a Sentence
Dampen the spot with a wet cloth. The shower barely dampened the ground. We wouldn't let the bad weather dampen our excitement.
Recent Examples on the Web
Neither are high enough to dampen demand to levels that would balance out the oil supply gap, according to Kaneva. —
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026 The divider dampens cabin noise and provides a visual barrier from the aisle, restroom lines and galley traffic. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 That cautionary note dampened Wall Street's enthusiasm and erased the stock's bump. —Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 Apr. 2026 Lower spending could also dampen inflation, prompting the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in an effort to support growth. —Martha Shedden, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dampen
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026 The divider dampens cabin noise and provides a visual barrier from the aisle, restroom lines and galley traffic. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 That cautionary note dampened Wall Street's enthusiasm and erased the stock's bump. —Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 Apr. 2026 Lower spending could also dampen inflation, prompting the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in an effort to support growth. —Martha Shedden, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dampen
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/dampen. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dampen
verb
damp·en ˈdam-pən
dampened; dampening ˈdamp-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to check or lessen in activity or vigor : deaden
2
: to make or become damp
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