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Definition of moisten

moisten

/ˈmɔɪ.sən/
mois · ten
Adjective:moist
•
Past Simple:moistened
•
Past Participle:moistened
•
Present Participle:moistening
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moisten Lexical Profile

moisten Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make something slightly wet or damp.

Example

"Lightly moisten the edges of the pastry dough with water before sealing the turnover."

2

To become slightly wet or damp (especially of the eyes filling with tears).

Example

"Her eyes began to moisten as she listened to the heartfelt tribute."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for moisten
Antonyms
View all antonyms for moisten

• Rhymes for moisten

• Nearby Words

moi
moila snake
moist
moisten
moistener
moistly
moistness

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the late 16th century from the adjective 'moist' combined with the verbal suffix '-en'. The root 'moist' entered Middle English via Old French 'moiste', which derived from Vulgar Latin 'muscidus' (meaning moldy or musty, from Latin 'mucus').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Moisten. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/moisten
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