# damp off

CEFR C2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/damp-off
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to die or rot because of a fungus, usually when a young plant is growing in soil that is too wet.

For teachers: to decay and perish from fungal infection at or below the soil line, typically affecting seedlings in overly moist conditions.

## Examples

- The tiny seedlings often damp off if you water them too much.
- If the greenhouse lacks proper ventilation, your tomato starts might damp off before they can be transplanted.
- Horticulturalists warn that without sterilized soil, vulnerable seedlings are likely to damp off due to soil-borne pathogens thriving in high humidity.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The plants damped off the soil." but "The plants damped off." — this phrasal verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

## Usage notes

- intransitive; used almost exclusively in gardening and botanical contexts regarding seedlings.
- Teaching tip: this is a highly technical gardening term; use it to demonstrate how phrasal verbs can serve specific professional or hobbyist niches.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.