What does dank mean?
Dank is an adjective describing places that are unpleasantly cold, wet, and humid — think of a windowless basement, a sea cave, or an old stone prison cell. The word almost always carries a negative connotation, evoking mildew, gloom, and discomfort, which is why it appears so often alongside nouns like "cellar," "dungeon," and "tunnel." First recorded in English in the early seventeenth century, its deeper origins remain uncertain, though it has been linked to Scandinavian words for marshy ground. In recent decades dank has taken on an unexpected informal life: in cannabis culture it denotes high-quality product, and internet slang has extended that sense to mean simply excellent, as in "a dank meme." This split gives the word two faces — the atmospheric dread of Gothic fiction on one side, and breezy digital approval on the other. Writers use the traditional sense to set moody scenes, while younger audiences deploy the newer one as casual praise.
Unpleasantly damp, cold, and humid — typically said of enclosed spaces such as cellars, caves, and dungeons.
"Mushrooms thrived in the dank corner of the abandoned greenhouse."
Almost always pejorative; rarely used of open outdoor spaces.
(Informal) Of high quality; excellent. Originally applied to potent marijuana and later extended, chiefly in internet slang, to memes and other things considered exceptionally good.
"Everyone agreed the group chat had delivered some genuinely dank content that week."
Strictly informal; may read as dated or ironic to some speakers.
A word once reserved for moldy dungeons got a second life online — today "dank memes" means the very best ones.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dank
Dank first appears in English in the early seventeenth century, used of damp and chilly conditions. Its ultimate origin is obscure; lexicographers have suggested a connection to Swedish "dank," meaning a marshy or boggy spot, but no cognate lineage has been firmly established. The word remained a largely literary term for clammy dampness for centuries before acquiring its informal senses in late twentieth- and twenty-first-century American slang.
Word family
Usage notes
The literal sense is standard in both British and American English and typically carries negative connotations of chill, gloom, and mildew. The slang senses are informal and register-dependent: among some speakers "dank" now means outstanding (especially of memes), while for others — particularly older speakers — the word remains firmly associated with mustiness. Context makes clear which sense is intended.
Don't confuse with
"Dunk" is a verb meaning to dip something into liquid (as in dunking a cookie in milk), while "dank" is an adjective describing unpleasant dampness.