variants
or less commonly dowse
doused also dowsed; dousing also dowsing
1
: to plunge into water
Blanch the green beans then douse them in a bath of ice water.
2
3
[originally in argot use (douse the glim meaning "extinguish the light") and perhaps of distinct origin]
: extinguish
douse the lights
douse the blaze
: to fall or become plunged into water
douser
noun
or less commonly dowser
doused; dousing
: divining rod
also
: a person who uses it
less common spelling of douser
: one that douses
specifically
: a fireproof shutter that controls or intercepts the light reaching the film aperture of a motion-picture mechanism (as a projector) or of a stereopticon
dous·er
variants
or less commonly dowser
-sə(r) 
-zə-
plural -s
: one that douses
specifically
: a fireproof shutter that controls or intercepts the light reaching the film aperture of a motion-picture mechanism (as a projector) or of a stereopticon
Examples of douse in a Sentence
Verb (1)
in those days a gentleman would douse his hat when going indoors
Noun (2)
those soccer hooligans need a sound douse or two from a police officer's club
Recent Examples on the Web
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Fire departments have also partnered with the APA to hand out buckets so consumer fireworks users can douse used fireworks, reducing the risk of accidental fires.
—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
Sure enough, Perez came to douse Witt, who also was aware of the postgame tradition.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Dugan Arnett,
BostonGlobe.com,
25 Sep. 2022
For centuries, dowsers have claimed the ability to find groundwater, precious metals, and other quarry using divining rods and a seemingly mystical intuition.
—
Svati Kirsten Narula,
Outside Online,
10 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for douse
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Verb
During the first half hydration break, France defender Lucas Digne let himself be doused by a sprinkler.
—
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Fire departments have also partnered with the APA to hand out buckets so consumer fireworks users can douse used fireworks, reducing the risk of accidental fires.
—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Noun
In interiors, a pop of red adds energy, but a douse of it on the walls transforms the room entirely.
—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
Sure enough, Perez came to douse Witt, who also was aware of the postgame tradition.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
For Britton, the Hamilton dowser, the practice is all a bit of a mystery.
—
Dugan Arnett,
BostonGlobe.com,
25 Sep. 2022
For centuries, dowsers have claimed the ability to find groundwater, precious metals, and other quarry using divining rods and a seemingly mystical intuition.
—
Svati Kirsten Narula,
Outside Online,
10 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for douse
Cite this Entry
“Douse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/douse. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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