dry

1 of 3

adjective

ˈdrī 

drier also dryer ˈdrī(-ə)r  ; driest also dryest ˈdrī-əst 

1

a

: free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water

Mix the dry ingredients first.

as dry as a bone

b

: not being in or under water

happy to be on dry land

c

meteorology : lacking precipitation or humidity

a dry climate

2

a

: characterized by exhaustion of a supply of liquid

a dry well

b

geology : devoid of running water

a dry ravine

c

: devoid of natural moisture

My throat was dry.

dry leaves

d

: no longer sticky or damp

The paint isn't dry yet.

e

: not giving milk

a dry cow

f

: lacking freshness : stale

g

chemistry : anhydrous

3

a

: marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions

a dry cough

b

: not shedding or accompanied by tears

a dry sob

4

obsolete : involving no bloodshed or drowning

I would fain die a dry death

—William Shakespeare

5

a

: marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages

a dry party

b

: prohibiting the manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages

a dry county

6

: served or eaten without butter or margarine

dry toast

7

alcohol

a

: lacking sweetness : sec

dry champagne

b

: having all or most sugar fermented to alcohol

a dry wine

dry beer

8

a

: solid as opposed to liquid

dry groceries

b

: reduced to powder or flakes : dehydrated

dry milk

c

: dealing in dry goods or other nonperishable items

After breakfast, we head to the wet market along Graham Street in Hong Kong. The wet market sells foodstuffs; the adjacent dry market offers clothes, shoes, and other retail items.

—Rudy Maxa

9

: functioning without lubrication

a dry clutch

10

of natural gas : containing no recoverable hydrocarbon (such as gasoline)

11

: requiring no liquid in preparation or operation

a dry photocopying process

12

a

: not showing or communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feeling : severe

a dry style of painting

b

: wearisome, uninteresting

dry passages of description

a dry lecturer

c

: lacking embellishment : plain

13

a

: not yielding what is expected or desired : unproductive

a writer going through a dry spell

b

: having no personal bias or emotional concern

the dry light of reason

c

: reserved, aloof

14

: marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression

a dry wit

has a very dry sense of humor

15

: lacking smooth sound qualities

a dry rasping voice

16

: being a dry run

a dry rehearsal

dryish

ˈdrī-ish 

adjective

dryly adverb

or less commonly drily

dryness noun

dry

2 of 3

verb

dried; drying

transitive verb

: to make dry (see dry entry 1)

drying her hair

intransitive verb

: to become dry

waiting for the paint to dry

dryable

ˈdrī-ə-bəl 

adjective

dry

3 of 3

noun

plural drys

1

: the condition of being dry (see dry entry 1) : dryness

2

: something dry

especially : a dry place

3

: prohibitionist

Synonyms

Adjective

• arid
• droughty
• sere
• sear
• thirsty
• waterless

Verb

• dehydrate
• desiccate
• parch
• scorch
• sear

Examples of dry in a Sentence

Adjective

Mix the dry ingredients first, then add the milk and eggs.

the dry heat of the desert

We tried to stay dry in the rain by standing under a tree.

The stream is bone dry.

Are the clothes dry yet?

The paint should be dry in a few hours.

a stretch of dry weather

a country with a very dry climate

This plant does well in dry conditions.

The chicken was dry and tasteless.

Verb

I'll wash the dishes if you dry them.

Make sure you dry your hands.

He dried himself with the towel.

Stop crying and dry your eyes.

I'll wash and you dry, okay?

Your shirt is drying on the clothesline.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The three-layer design offers extra protection against spillage, ensuring that all the contents of your toiletry bag stay dry. —Catherine Garcia, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024

Bursts of rain could cause dangerous flash flooding, but some areas could be slow to flood given how dry a lot of the soils are after a record-breaking October. —Mary Gilbert, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

To prevent this, thoroughly clean and dry your cast-iron pans before use. Cracking: Dropping or placing a heavy cast-iron pan down too forcefully on your surface can crack the glass. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2024

Finish by rinsing with water and drying the area with a clean cloth. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Verb, and Noun

Middle English, from Old English drȳge; akin to Old High German truckan dry, Old English drēahnian to drain

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dry

• air-dry
• (as) dry as a bone
• bleed (someone/something) dry
• blow-dry
• bone-dry
• come up dry
• cut-and-dry
• drip-dry
• dry bulb temperature
• dry bulb thermometer
• dry cell
• dry-clean
• dry cleaner
• dry cleaning
• dry dock
• dry-erase board
• dry eye
• dry-eyed
• dry farming
• dry fly
• dry goods
• dry heat
• dry heaves
• dry hole
• dry ice
• dry measure
• dry mop
• dry mouth
• dry nurse
• dry off
• dry one's tears
• dry out
• dry rot
• dry run
• dry-shod
• dry sink
• dry spell
• dry suit
• dry up
• dry wash
• dry well
• freeze-dry
• hang out to dry
• high and dry
• home and dry
• keep one's powder dry
• milk/bleed/suck (someone or something) dry
• not a dry eye in the house
• rough-dry
• run dry
• spin-dry
• tumble dry
• wring dry

Kids Definition

dry

1 of 3 adjective

ˈdrī 

drier

ˈdrī(-ə)r

; driest

ˈdrī-əst

1

: free or nearly free from liquid and especially water

dry weight

dry steam

2

: characterized by loss or lack of water: as

a

: lacking precipitation and humidity

a dry climate

b

: lacking freshness : stale

c

: low in or deprived of natural juices or moisture

dry hay

a dry fruit

3

: not being in or under water

dry land

4

a

: thirsty sense 1

b

: marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages

a dry party

c

: no longer damp or sticky

the paint is dry

5

: containing or using no liquid (as water)

a dry creek

dry heat

6

: not giving milk

a dry cow

7

: not producing phlegm

dry cough

8

: not producing or yielding what is expected or wanted

a dry oil well

9

: marked by a matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression

dry humor

10

: failing to arouse interest or enthusiasm

a dry lecture

11

: not sweet

dry wines

12

: relating to, favoring, or practicing prohibition of alcoholic beverages

a dry county

dryly adverb

or drily

dryness noun

dry

2 of 3 verb

dried; drying

: to make or become dry

dry

3 of 3 noun

plural drys

ˈdrīz

: prohibitionist

Medical Definition

dry

1 of 2 adjective

ˈdrī 

drier ˈdrī(-ə)r  ; driest ˈdrī-əst 

1

: marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions, effusions, or other forms of moisture

2

of a cough : not accompanied by the raising of mucus or phlegm

dry

2 of 2 verb

dried; drying

transitive verb

: to make dry

intransitive verb

: to become dry