transitive verb

• 1Wet slightly.

  ‘she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Slightly moisten the rock salt with the water and spread on a tray large enough to take the oysters.’
  • ‘Dredge the bones in flour to coat, slightly moistening the bones with reserved liquid if necessary to make starch adhere.’
  • ‘To obtain each sample, 4 sterile cotton-tipped applicators were slightly moistened in sterile saline and swabbed along the length of the shaft.’
  • ‘The fine powder has to be slightly moistened and formed into granules to make a product which will dissolve without bedding down into a lumpy mass.’
  • ‘Just make sure the roses receive enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 18 inches every week during the growing season.’
  • ‘He slowed his pace slightly and swallowed to moisten his fear-parched throat.’
  • ‘Encourage roots to grow downward by watering enough to moisten the soil about 6 inches down.’
  • ‘Water the garden thoroughly the day before planting to moisten the soil.’
  • ‘Jonnie moistens his lips and asks the question a second time.’
  • ‘Martina moistens her lips, looking down the hallway towards the ICU area.’
  • ‘He paused, moistening his lower lip, nervous of her reaction.’
  • ‘I lick my lips trying to moisten my mouth a bit and speak.’
  • ‘To grow poppies, simply cultivate the area, rake smooth and moisten the soil.’
  • ‘Alicia licked her lips, trying to moisten her parched mouth.’
  • ‘Blinking produces tears that can help moisten and lubricate your eyes.’
  • ‘Basal tears are shed continually in order to moisten and protect the surface of the eye.’
  • ‘This compound expands when moistened and begins the process of separating the block of stone from the quarry wall.’
  • ‘Gel is better than lotion, she says, because it moistens and soothes the skin without penetrating it and causing more irritation.’
  • ‘A well-prepared turducken is a marvelous treat, a free-form poultry terrine layered with flavorful stuffing and moistened with duck fat.’
  • ‘A fitness facial for men will cleanse hydrate, moisten and refresh the skin.’

  Synonyms

  dampen, wet, damp, dew, water, soak, irrigate, humidify

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1no object (of the eyes) fill with tears.
     ‘her eyes moistened’
     More example sentences

     • ‘The comment stung Renae and she felt the danger of tears as her eyes moistened.’
     • ‘Her throat felt dry and her eyes moistened as a tear jerked itself out, her breath turned to gasps of disbelief.’
     • ‘‘At 30, I thought I was going to live happily ever after,’ he says, his eyes moistening for the first time.’
     • ‘The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling.’
     • ‘At all the appropriate times the eyes moisten and the laughter comes but to be honest we don't really care about the characters too much.’
     • ‘‘Reckons I'm not fit to have him,’ he muttered, eyes moistening.’
     • ‘In a way, I was glad it was over; I could already feel my eyes moistening and my voice breaking.’
     • ‘When finally she announced the news to Monty, he was so pleased that his expression collapsed, his eyes moistened, and he had to turn away in embarrassment.’
     • ‘She looked at him, eyes moistened still, and her face struggled between smile and surprise.’
     • ‘Our eyes moistened as emotion for our skipper took over from the rough and tumble of rugby.’
     • ‘As the print shop came into view, a lump formed in Elizabeth's throat and her eyes moistened.’
     • ‘She was appalled at her reflection and felt her eyes moisten.’
     • ‘Nathan felt his eyes moisten and knew he was living in a dream.’
     • ‘Listening to her long answer in Portuguese without understanding, I see her eyes moisten.’
     • ‘When he is done rambling, a wistful expression comes to him and his eyes moisten over.’
     • ‘It took his breath away and his eyes moistened every time he walked into the room.’
     • ‘Nathan felt his eyes moisten hating seeing her like this and knowing he had played a part.’
     • ‘My eyes began to moisten, but I blinked back the tears.’
     • ‘His eyes began to moisten and all he could manage was a crackly, ‘We should talk for a while?’’
     • ‘Once there, my eyes begin to moisten and before long I am sobbing.’