1. the act or process of making something moist or reducing its intensity

1. making something slightly wet or moist
Usage: present participle of dampen
2. reducing the intensity, force, or enthusiasm of something
Usage: present participle of dampen

Examples

• She was dampening the cloth before cleaning the table.
• The rain was dampening our picnic plans.
• His criticism had a dampening effect on her enthusiasm.
• The dampening of the sound made it hard to hear.
• Try dampening the paper slightly before folding it.
• The news was dampening everyone’s spirits.
• The dampening system controls vibrations in the machine.