dank

UK: /ˈdæŋk/ US: /dæŋk/ ,(dangk)

Inflections of 'dank' (adj):

danker

adj comparative

dankest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dank /dæŋk/   adj., -er, -est. 

1. unpleasantly moist or humid;
   damp and, often, chilly:
   a dank cellar.

dank•ly, adv. 
dank•ness, n. [noncount ]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dank  (dangk), adj., -er, -est. 

1. unpleasantly moist or humid;
   damp and, often, chilly:
   a dank cellar.

• Scandinavian; compare dialect, dialectal Swedish dänka, Norwegian dynke moisten, cognate with Old Norse dǫkk water hole
• Middle English (adjective, adjectival and noun, nominal), probably 1350–1400

dank′ly, adv. 
dank′ness, n. 
Synonyms

wet, clammy, muggy, sticky, soggy.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dank / dæŋk/ adjective

1. (esp of cellars, caves, etc) unpleasantly damp and chilly

Etymology: 14th Century: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish dank marshy spot

ˈdankly adverb

ˈdankness noun