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

Just moisten the potting mix, preferably one with a high percentage of organic matter, to help the blocks hold their shape.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 24, 2024

They love hot, dry conditions, but they need the occasional downpour to moisten the soil in which they incubate their eggs.

From New York Times ● Feb. 14, 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

His mouth was dry and his tongue stuck to his lips when he tried to moisten them.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko

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

Even without soap, the soft water moistens the hand, while hard water flows off, just as if the skin had been smeared with oil.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 1. No 1, June 1850 by Various

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

Add about half the heavy cream, and fold gently until the dry ingredients are just barely moistened.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 15, 2023

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

From Washington Times ● Aug. 15, 2023

When he was told they had heard nothing, his eyes moistened for a moment, then he blinked, thanked the team and turned back to the site with his uncle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2023

These offerings Nestor burned on the split-wood fire and moistened with red wine.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

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

Chiles relleno filled with picadillo are traditionally served with a tomato soup, which soaks into the ground meat, moistening the dish.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 7, 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

So every day I filled an old coffee can two or three times and watered around the roots of the bush, moistening the earth until it became spongy.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago