douse

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'douse' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It means to put out or extinguish a fire, light, or flame. You can also use it as a verb meaning to plunge or immerse something in liquid. Example Sentence: She quickly doused a match in water to prevent a fire from starting.

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Hollywood film U-571 (2000), in which the Royal Navy's capture of an Enigma machine during the second world war is falsely attributed to an American crew (including chief engineer Jon Bon Jovi), was denounced in parliament by prime minister Tony Blair.

The Guardian - Film

U Myint Aye, aged 61, from Yangon, has a long track record of peaceful political activism.

The Guardian

Referring back to her iconic look in the Nothing Compares 2 U video – a huge international hit written by Prince – O'Connor admitted that she was asked by her label to reconsider her image for the 1990s video.

The Guardian - Music

In Britain, the US and France the top 1% have over the past 100 years seen their fortunes rise and fall and rise again in a U-shaped arc.

The Guardian - Business

Of these, Brundage sa id 85% – almost 600,000 – are unemployed even though many of them are employable.

The Guardian - Business

"This time it was União da Madeira, his eighth promotion, from the second division to the first tier (or seventh if we exclude last year as he was sacked before the end of the season): P. Ferreira 90-91, Académica 96-97, U. Leiria 97-98, Belenenses 98-99, Leixões 06-07, Arouca 12-13, Moreirense 13-14 and U. Madeira 14-15.

The Guardian - Sport

The U-6 number is around 13%, Yellen says.

The Guardian - Business

But on Thursday at an EU summit in Brussels, Luxembourg performed a U-turn and promised to hand over all the tax rulings to the commission after Vestager announced she was extending her inquiry to all 28 EU countries.

The Guardian

Indeed the pressure became so intense over the past 72 hours that the government was forced into an embarrassing U-turn over plans to cut allowances for younger disabled people in the republic.

The Guardian

"I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge we've had since simon [cowell]," the rapper further tweeted.

The Guardian - Music

Amnesty is calling for the immediate release of Burmese human rights activist U Myint Aye, who is serving a life sentence for his alleged involvement in planning a bomb attack in the Shwepyitha Township in Yangon on 1 July 2008.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "douse" to describe the act of extinguishing a fire or flooding something with liquid. For emphasis, consider using "thoroughly douse" to highlight the completeness of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "douse" interchangeably with terms like "sprinkle" or "mist". "Douse" implies a more significant amount of liquid being applied or a more forceful act of extinguishing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "douse" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It describes the action of extinguishing or saturating something. Though Ludwig has no direct examples, the definition confirms its verbal function.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "douse" functions as a transitive verb meaning to extinguish something with liquid or to saturate it thoroughly. According to Ludwig, the term is grammatically correct. However, no example sentences were found, suggesting it might be less frequently used in contemporary writing. As there are no examples, the frequency is missing from this analysis. Despite the lack of examples, the word "douse" remains a valid and useful term for describing the act of extinguishing or saturating with liquid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Extinguish

Focuses specifically on putting out a fire or light.

Quench

Specifically refers to satisfying thirst or extinguishing a fire.

Soak

Implies thorough wetting or saturation.

Smother

To extinguish a fire by covering it.

Submerge

Suggests completely covering something with liquid.

Immerse

Similar to submerge, but can also mean deeply involve.

Plunge

Indicates a quick and forceful dipping into liquid.

Saturate

Emphasizes filling something completely with a liquid.

Deluge

Suggests an overwhelming flood of liquid.

Waterlog

Indicates that something is excessively saturated with water.

FAQs

How can I use "douse" in a sentence?

"Douse" means to extinguish something, usually with liquid, or to soak something thoroughly. For example, "She quickly doused the flames with a bucket of water" or "He doused himself in cologne".

What can I say instead of "douse"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "extinguish", "soak", or "saturate".

Is "douse" the same as "dowse"?

No, "douse" and "dowse" are different words with different meanings. "Douse" means to extinguish or soak, while "dowse" means to search for underground water or minerals with a divining rod.

Can "douse" be used figuratively?

Yes, "douse" can be used figuratively to mean to suppress or dampen something, such as enthusiasm or spirits. For example, "The bad news doused their excitement".