Learn about the difference between the homophones: douse and dowse

Definitions

douse

Douse is a verb that means to pour a liquid over something or someone, usually to extinguish a fire.

Example

The firefighters doused the flames with water.

Example

She doused herself in perfume before going out.

dowse

Dowse is a verb that means to search for underground water or minerals using a divining rod or a similar tool.

Example

The farmer dowsed the land to find a good spot for his well.

Example

He claimed he could dowse for oil with a forked stick.

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

- To remember the difference between these two words, think of douse as putting out a fire with water. The word water contains the letters 'ou', which can help you remember the spelling of douse. - For dowse, think of it as searching for something underground with a divining rod. The word underground contains the letters 'ow', which can help you remember the spelling of dowse.