Douse/daʊs/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Physical Action Use 'douse' to describe a physical action that involves pouring a lot of liquid. He doused the car with soapy water while washing it. Pro Tip 2/3Extinguishing Fires 'Douse' is often used when putting out fires with various liquids. Firefighters doused the burning building with foam. Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Water While 'douse' is commonly associated with water, it can refer to any liquid. The chef doused the pan with wine to create a sauce.