Word
moisten
Phoneticsmoist·en, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɔɪsən/
UK/mˈɔɪstən/
Definition
v. to make something slightly wet. You might do this to a piece of cloth or your lips to stop them from feeling dry.
v. to make something slightly or moderately wet. Transitive in most contexts, though it can appear intransitively to describe the process of becoming damp.
Examples
“You should moisten the cloth before you clean the table.”
“The baker used a pastry brush to moisten the edges of the dough so they would stick together.”
“Before applying the bandage, the nurse used a sterile solution to moisten the surrounding skin, ensuring the adhesive would not cause irritation upon removal.”
Examples
simple
“You should moisten the cloth before you clean the table.”
contextual
“The baker used a pastry brush to moisten the edges of the dough so they would stick together.”
complex
“Before applying the bandage, the nurse used a sterile solution to moisten the surrounding skin, ensuring the adhesive would not cause irritation upon removal.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “moisten” in context.
Noun
01. moisten cloth
“Moisten a clean cloth with warm water to wipe the surface.”
verb + noun
02. moisten lips
“He paused to moisten his lips before continuing his speech.”
verb + noun
03. moisten skin
“Apply the lotion to moisten the skin after bathing.”
verb + noun
04. moisten throat
“She took a sip of water to moisten her dry throat.”
verb + noun
05. moisten with water
“Lightly moisten the soil with water every morning.”
verb + prep + noun
06. moisten the tip of
“He would often moisten the tip of his pencil before writing.”
07. moisten with a damp cloth
“Gently moisten the area with a damp cloth to remove the dust.”
08. moisten your dry lips
“Use a balm to moisten your dry lips in the winter.”
Usage
Transitive — takes a direct object. Often used with 'with' to indicate the liquid used.
Real-World Examples
“A damp rag helps moisten and soften any crusted stuff that’s still stuck after the vacuum pass.” “Moisten the fresh or dry sage leaves with some water and scatter them over the lamb racks.” “He moistened a copy of the book and introduced spores to it, consuming the oyster mushrooms that grew from its pages.” “Once done, shred the meat using forks and moisten it with the remaining sauce from the pressure cooker.” Etymology
From moist + -en.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/moisten