damp

A little wet, but not completely covered or filled with water.

• My socks are damp.
• Wipe the table with a damp cloth.
• The walls felt damp after several days of rain.

How to use it: damp with something (The grass was damp with dew.)

Similar words: moist

Opposites: dry

Common phrases: damp cloth, damp clothes

A small amount of water in the air, ground, or walls, often causing problems indoors.

• There is damp in the bedroom.
• The old house smelled of damp.
• We treated the walls to stop rising damp.

Similar words: dampness, moisture, humidity

Opposites: dryness

Common phrases: rising damp, damp in walls

To make something a little wet.

• Damp the cloth before cleaning.
• She damped the paper with a wet sponge.
• Lightly damp the surface before applying the paste.

Similar words: moisten, dampen

Opposites: dry

Common phrases: damp a cloth, damp something down

To reduce shaking or repeated movement by turning its energy into heat or another form.

• The rubber pads damp vibrations.
• The circuit damped the unwanted electrical oscillations.
• Special supports damp the movement of the bridge.

Similar words: dampen, attenuate

Opposites: amplify

Common phrases: damp vibrations, damp oscillations