1
: a noxious gas compare black damp, firedamp
3
a
b
archaic
: depression, dejection
damped; damping; damps
1
a
: to affect with or as if with a noxious gas : choke
b
: to diminish the activity or intensity of
damping down the causes of inflation
liquid damps out compass oscillations
c
: to check the vibration or oscillation of (something, such as a string or a voltage)
2
: dampen
: to diminish progressively in vibration or oscillation
Synonyms
Examples of damp in a Sentence
Noun
The boxes were left outside in the damp.
the damp of the night
Verb
His hands were damped with sweat.
refused to let the setbacks damp his drive for success
Adjective
Wipe up the mess with a damp cloth.
Her forehead was damp with perspiration.
My hair's still damp from the rain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Bujalski Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 11 June 2024
The melodramatic piano music has put you on edge, as have the visible damp of the Savannah air and the oak trees dripping with moss.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2023
Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
Heading down the trail, the generic front suspension fork quickly runs out of damping if speeds rise above a fairly deliberate pace.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Mark Eller, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
Fungus gnats, which are the most common species of gnats, are often found infesting plants around the house, hanging around lights or commercial greenhouses, or congregating in other damp places like sink drains or garbage disposals.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for damp 
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Noun
Invigorated by the damp, fungi living quietly in the soil sprout fruiting bodies.
—Rachel Bujalski Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 11 June 2024
The melodramatic piano music has put you on edge, as have the visible damp of the Savannah air and the oak trees dripping with moss.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2023
Verb
For this test, hats and gloves were worn in a range of winter conditions, from cold, dry, sometimes snowy Colorado Front Range and high country, to cold, damp Virginia and cool, rainy, mild Northern California.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
Heading down the trail, the generic front suspension fork quickly runs out of damping if speeds rise above a fairly deliberate pace.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The men’s winter running hats, gloves, and mittens in this review proved remarkably effective in a wide range of winter outings, from damp, near-freezing fog to single-digit cold.
—Mark Eller, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
Fungus gnats, which are the most common species of gnats, are often found infesting plants around the house, hanging around lights or commercial greenhouses, or congregating in other damp places like sink drains or garbage disposals.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for damp
Articles Related to damp
Dictionary Entries Near damp
Cite this Entry
“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damp. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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Medical Definition
damp
noun
: a noxious or stifling gas or vapor
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