moisten

There’s nothing like a life-and-death situation turning out “life” to moisten one’s eyes, especially if you or a loved one has spent any time in the medical system, or feared the possibility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2025

They had some Palestinian thyme and foraged wild greens to eat, but only that, and just enough water to moisten their mouths once in a while, Mr. Barda told a Times reporter.

From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2024

Then, they used energy dissipation models to compare the seals' ability to warm and moisten air during inhalation and to reduce heat and moisture loss during exhalation.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 14, 2023

Spread the spores evenly over the substrate and gently moisten it once, then mist or spray it with water twice daily, keeping it consistently moist but not soggy.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 5, 2023

It was barely enough to moisten a fingertip, but when you wiped it away, it immediately reappeared.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

You'll be in awe of the soft, warm pockets of spiced, tender apple, as well as how much the apple moistens the cake.

From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2022

The teeth and jaw mechanically chew the food, and saliva from the salivary glands moistens the food and initiates mechanical and chemical digestion.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The teeth and jaw mechanically chew the food, and saliva from the salivary glands moistens the food and begins chemical digestion.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

“That moistens your mouth to get it ready to spit,” he said.

From Washington Post

If you dig in a dry and barren spot, and happen to strike a vein of living water, it bubbles up, overflows, and moistens the surrounding earth, clothing it with beautiful verdure and smiling flowers.

From The Happiness of Heaven By a Father of the Society of Jesus by F. J. Boudreaux

And your throat hitched up against your will and your eyes moistened and when they started with “USA! USA!” you gave up, gave in, and pumped your fist.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

Months earlier, in March, farmworkers had used a machine to drop each little plant, grown in a greenhouse, into the moistened soil.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2025

In the relatively new carbon dioxide method, developed in the early 1970s, producers use high-pressure CO₂ to extract caffeine from moistened coffee beans.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2024

Mix, scraping the bowl as needed, just until the dough is evenly moistened, 1 to 2 minutes.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 15, 2023

She dried me off, massaged me until I was as soft as moistened bread, and pulled the covers over me when I closed my eyes in the bed.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

The teacher bristled, with anger moistening her eyes: “Just think of where you would prefer to live.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025

A wet March has provided a welcome partial relief to farmers by moistening soil ahead of planting but underground water levels remain dangerously low, especially around the Mediterranean.

From BBC ● May 5, 2023

Warning: López has written a play that induces all manner of crying, from a moistening of the eyes to all-out sobbing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2022

Its covers front and back fell off as I dislodged it, and individual pages separated from the spine with each one I turned, my eyes moistening from the dust let loose.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 8, 2020

“Go on,” said Harker hoarsely; so he bowed his head and moistening his lips with his tongue, added: “except that the poor fellow is dead.”

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker