Meaning & use
moistening
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“moistening” is a form of “moisten”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
The present participle of 'moisten': making something slightly wet.
Grammar: Used in progressive tenses or as a participle: 'She is moistening the cloth.' It can also be intransitive: 'His eyes were moistening.'
Patterns
- moistening something
- moistening something with something
She is moistening the sponge before wiping the counter.
The baker brushed the bread, moistening the crust slightly.
His eyes were moistening as he said goodbye.
noununcountable
The act of making something slightly wet, or the small amount of liquid used to do this.
Grammar: Used as a noun, often before 'of': 'the moistening of the soil'.
Patterns
- the moistening of something
The moistening of the clay made it easier to shape.
A light moistening of the leaves helps them stay fresh.
Common combinations
- moistening agent
- Glycerin is often used as a moistening agent in cosmetics.
- moistening the lips
- He kept moistening his lips nervously.
- slightly moistening
- Slightly moistening the brush helps the paint flow.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dampening
- Similar, but 'dampening' often means making something damp, not just slightly wet; it can also mean reducing sound or feeling.
- wetting
- Stronger and more complete than 'moistening'; 'wetting' usually means making something thoroughly wet.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: moistening or moisturizing?
moistening vs moisturizing
This means adding moisture to skin or hair, often with a product. 'Moistening' is more general and can apply to any surface.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'moistening' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses 'moistening' with an object and a means ('with water'). Option 1 is contradictory, and options 2 and 3 use incorrect prepositions or structures.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “moistening”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.