verb

douse

dows

verb

To drench something thoroughly with liquid.

"He doused the campfire with a bucket of water."

"She doused her salad with too much dressing."

To put out a flame or light.

"They doused the candles before leaving the room."

How to Use Douse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo soak something with liquid, or to put out a fire or light.

Common mistake

Easy to confuse with "dowse," which means searching for water or metal with a divining rod — different word, different meaning.

Easily confused with

dowse

Common pairings

douse with water douse the flames douse a fire

doused past tense, doused past tense, douses plural, douses plural, Douses plural, douses singular, douses singular

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Can you complete this real example?

He _____ the campfire with a bucket of water.

Probably from a North Germanic root related to Swedish dunsa, "to fall clumsily" or "plunge down."

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