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

What little urine I've been able to pass is a dark brown, my head is aching, and there's a dry patch on my tongue that refuses to moisten.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

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 begins chemical digestion.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Saliva contains mucus that moistens food and buffers the pH of the food.

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

They pump the CO₂ into a sealed vessel containing the moistened coffee beans, and the caffeine molecules dissolve in the CO₂.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2024

Press the soil block maker into the moistened potting mix and rock back and forth to fill.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 24, 2024

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

From Washington Times ● Aug. 15, 2023

Kino moistened his cracked lips with his tongue.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck

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

On his last day of school on Friday, Mr. Esquivel thanked each of his teachers, his eyes moistening as they described him as a gift to the school community.

From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2022

In addition to moistening fuels, the rain also dampened the soil, which means that snowpack won’t be landing on bone-dry earth, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2021

The manservant, Rogers, had been moistening his lips and twisting his hands.

From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie