dowse

D2O1W4S1E1
/daʊs//daʊz/

verb

To use the dipping or divining rod, as in search of water, ore, etc.

Similar
dowsingrhabdomancydousedrenchsoaksopsouse
UncommonScrabble 9
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Meanings

dowse1

verbdowse (third-person singular simple present dowses, present participle dowsing, simple past and past participle dowsed)

present singular third person dowses · participle present dowsing · participle past dowsed · past dowsed

  1. alternativeAlternative form of douse (“to plunge into water”).

dowse2

verbdowse (third-person singular simple present dowses, present participle dowsing, simple past and past participle dowsed)

present singular third person dowses · participle present dowsing · participle past dowsed · past dowsed

  1. alternativeAlternative form of douse (“to strike”).
noundowse (plural dowses)

plural dowses

  1. alternativeAlternative form of douse (“strike”).

dowse3

verbdowse (third-person singular simple present dowses, present participle dowsing, simple past and past participle dowsed)

present singular third person dowses · participle present dowsing · participle past dowsed · past dowsed

  1. intransitiveTo use the dipping or divining rod, as in search of water, ore, etc.

Dowse4

proper nounDowse (plural Dowses)

plural Dowses

  1. A surname.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounsearching for underground water or minerals by using a dowsing rod

Similar
dowsingrhabdomancy
Broader
divinationforetellingsoothsaying

verbwet thoroughly

Similar
douse
Broader
wet

verbslacken

Similar
douse
Broader
slackenremit

verbcover with liquid; pour liquid onto

Similar
drenchdousesoaksopsouse
Broader
wet
Also see
dashdousedowsingdrenchhitjerklambastepeltpoundrhabdomancysoaksopsousetapthwack

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

dowse · verb

Unknown; originally a dialectal term from southern England.

Full word history & related roots →

Dowse · proper noun

Variant spelling of Duce.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with dowse

housebrowsemousespouseblouserousearouseespousedowscarousedrowseprowsunblouse
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

dowse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dowse

MLA

“dowse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dowse. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dowse,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dowse.

Source: dowse on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.