# dew

/ˈdu/ (US) · /djˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dew
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. moisture on plants

noun · CEFR B1

small drops of water that form on the ground and plants during the night when the air cools down.

For teachers: atmospheric moisture condensed in small drops upon cool surfaces, particularly vegetation, during the night or early morning.

- The morning dew made the grass feel wet against my shoes.
- Heavy dew had settled on the valley overnight, leaving the vineyard shimmering under the first rays of the morning sun.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the substance generally.

### 2. to moisten

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to make something wet with tiny drops of water, or for those drops to form naturally.

For teachers: to wet or moisten a surface with or as if with dew; can be used transitively or to describe the natural process of condensation.

- The mist dewed the windows of the old cottage.
- As the temperature plummeted, the cold air began to dew the metal surfaces of the abandoned machinery.

Usage: Often used in a figurative or poetic sense to describe light moisture.

## Examples

- Dew covered the grass in the morning.
- The gardener waited until the dew dried before mowing the lawn to avoid clumping.
- A thick layer of dew settled on the spiderwebs, turning the garden into a glittering landscape of tiny, suspended diamonds.

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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.