What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dampen
Example
The rain dampened our clothes. [dampened: past tense verb]
Example
The bad news dampened their spirits. [dampened: past participle adjective]
soak
Example
I need to soak these dishes before washing them. [soak: verb]
Example
After the storm, my clothes were soaked through. [soaked: past participle adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dampen is more commonly used than soak in everyday language. Dampen is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while soak is less common and usually used in specific situations where complete saturation is required.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dampen and soak?
Both dampen and soak are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
