Word
douse
US/ˈdaʊs/
UK/dˈaʊs/
Definition
v. to pour a lot of water or other liquid over something to make it very wet or to stop a fire. You douse campfires, hot coals, or burning food to cool them fast.
v. to drench or cover thoroughly with liquid, especially to extinguish flames. Often implies a sudden, heavy application.
Examples
“She douses the campfire with water before leaving.”
“After grilling, he douses the hot coals with a bucket of water to prevent flare-ups.”
“Firefighters doused the smoldering warehouse through the night, soaking each floor until no ember could reignite in the morning wind.”
Examples
simple
“She douses the campfire with water before leaving.”
contextual
“After grilling, he douses the hot coals with a bucket of water to prevent flare-ups.”
complex
“Firefighters doused the smoldering warehouse through the night, soaking each floor until no ember could reignite in the morning wind.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object, often followed by 'with' or 'in' to name the liquid.
Real-World Examples
“Four men have been jailed for killing a member of an organised crime group who was tortured, doused in petrol and set alight.” “The teacher, 59, was doused with gasoline and struck during a protest on Friday.” “On Sunday, police detained a 16-year-old over the assault of a 59-year-old teacher who had been doused with gasoline and assaulted on the sidelines of a school protest.” “Police said other homes in the area were doused in an accelerant but did not ignite.” Etymology
Probably of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish dunsa (“to plumb down, fall clumsily”), Danish dunse (“to thump”). Compare Old English dwǣsċan (“to extinguish”) and douse below.
From Middle English duschen, dusshen (“to rush, fall”), related to Norwegian dusa (“to break, cast down from”), Old Dutch doesen (“to beat, strike”), dialectal German tusen, dusen (“to strike, run against, collide”), Saterland Frisian dössen (“to strike”). Compare doss, dust.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/douse