damp
gb/dˈæmp/ us/dˈæmp/
A2
English
~ 4400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
slightly wet or moist
A little bit wet, usually in a way you do not like.
Usage pattern:
[something] is damp
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'damp' with 'humid'. 'Damp' refers to something that is physically a little wet, while 'humid' refers to moisture in the air.
Synonyms
moist (Similar meaning but can have a more neutral or even positive connotation.)
Antonyms
dry (Describes the absence of moisture.)
Collocations
damp clothes
|damp ground
|damp towel
|damp air
|slightly damp
Themes
daily life
|weather
|home
|daily_life
|housing
Examples
- The grass was still damp from the morning dew.
- I hung my shirt outside, but it’s still damp.
- The walls feel damp after the heavy rain.
- Her hair was damp from the drizzle.
Learner examples
- The towel is damp.
- My shoes are damp from the rain.
- The floor is damp after cleaning.
- His shirt is damp with sweat.
Noun
B1
entity
2
slight moisture on a surface
A small amount of wetness that makes something feel bad or smell bad.
Usage pattern:
the damp in [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'damp' (noun) with 'humidity'. Humidity refers to moisture in the air, not in walls or objects.
Synonyms
moisture (More general; can refer to any amount of water present.)
Antonyms
dryness (The state of being free from moisture.)
Collocations
smell of damp
|signs of damp
|patch of damp
Themes
home
|weather
|daily_life
|housing
Examples
- There’s a patch of damp on the wall.
- The basement smells of damp.
- The books were ruined by damp.
Learner examples
- There is damp on the wall.
- The room smells of damp.
- Damp can damage clothes.
Verb
B1
action
3
make something slightly wet
To make something a little wet.
Usage pattern:
to damp [something]
Synonyms
moisten (Often used for more deliberate or gentle action, especially in cooking or cleaning.)
Antonyms
dry (To remove moisture from something.)
Collocations
damp a cloth
|damp the sponge
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She damped the cloth before wiping the table.
- Damp the soil before planting the seeds.
- He damped his hair to style it.
Learner examples
- Damp the towel before cleaning.
- I damp my hands before touching the paper.
- Damp the sponge with water.
Verb
B2
action
4
reduce intensity or strength
To make something weaker or less active.
Usage pattern:
to damp [something] down
Synonyms
diminish (General term for making something smaller or weaker.)
Antonyms
intensify (To make stronger or more powerful.)
Collocations
damp enthusiasm
|damp noise
|damp vibration
Themes
emotions
|physics
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- The rain damped our excitement for the picnic.
- Thick curtains help to damp noise from outside.
- The shock absorbers damp vibrations.
Learner examples
- The bad news damped her smile.
- Soft walls damp sound in the room.
- Rain can damp a fire.
Grammar
Dictionary form
damp
IPA
GB/dˈæmp/
US/dˈæmp/
Syllables & stress
damp (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (damp)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: damp
- Comparative: damper
- Superlative: dampest
Noun
- Base: damp
- Plural: damp
Verb
- Base: damp
- 3rd Person Singular: damps
- Present Participle: damping
- Past: damped
Word family
Expressions
damp down
1/dˈæmp dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
reduce intensity or activity
To make something less strong or active.
Examples
- The teacher tried to damp down the argument before it got worse.
- Extra insulation will help to damp down the noise from the street.
damp squib
1/dˈæmp skwɪb/
idiom
informal
event that is disappointing or ineffective
Something that is not as good or exciting as expected.
Examples
- The party was a bit of a damp squib after all the hype.
- His performance turned out to be a damp squib.